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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

November 30, 1994 · Douglas DC-8-71F · N826BX

Chicago, IL

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
November 30, 1994
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury), 6 uninjured
Location
Chicago, IL
Aircraft
Douglas DC-8-71F
Tail Number
N826BX
Operator
Air Transport International
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Minor
NTSB Number
CHI95LA049

IN A WRITTEN STATEMENT, A REPRESENTATIVE OF BURLINGTON EXPRESS REPORTED THAT AFTER THE AIRPLANE LANDED, FOUR CARGO TECHNICIANS BOARDED THE PLANE AND BEGAN DOWNLOADING PROCEDURES. THE CARGO LOCKS IN THE FRONT BELLY WERE REMOVED AND APPROXIMATELY 2,000 POUNDS OF CARGO WERE DOWNLOADED. THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNLOCKING CARGO IN THE TAIL WHEN THE AIRPLANE TAIL SETTLED. THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED MINOR DAMAGE TO THE CARGO DOOR AND AN ANTENNA. THE UNLOCKED PALLET FROM THE FRONT BELLY ROLLED AFT AND ONE OF THE TECHNICIANS WAS TRAPPED BY THE PALLET AND SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURY TO HIS FOOT. THE REPORT STATED THAT STANDARD PROCEDURES FOR DOWNLOADING THE AIRPLANE WERE 'POSSIBLY GLAZED OVER.' A FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION INSPECTOR WHO RESPONDED TO THE ACCIDENT REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS UNLOADED IMPROPERLY. THE BURLINGTON TRAINING MANUAL SPECIFIES THAT THE AIRPLANE SHOULD BE UNLOADED FROM THE REAR OF THE AIRPLANE FIRST.

NTSB Probable Cause

the failure of the ground crew to maintain an appropriate center of gravity while downloading cargo from the airplane. A factor was the ground crew's failure to follow established downloading procedures.

Full Narrative

On November 30, 1994, about 0535 central standard time, Burlington Express flight 814, a Douglas DC-8-71F, N826BX, operated by Air Transport International, sustained minor damage when the tail stand collapsed at the O'Hare International Airport, Chicago, Illinois. A ground crew member, who was unloading the airplane, reported serious injury. The three flight crew members, who had not deplaned, and three other ground crew members, also on board, reported no injuries. The 14 CFR Part 121 flight had landed at 0522 and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. In a written statement, a representative of Burlington Express reported that the airplane landed in Chicago at 0522. He said a tail stand was installed and four cargo technicians boarded the plane and began downloading procedures. The cargo locks in the front belly P1 position were removed and approximately 2,000 pounds of cargo were downloaded, leaving 2,100 pounds in the P1 position. The technicians were unlocking the P12 position and the airplane tail settled. The airplane sustained minor damage to the cargo door and an antenna. The unlocked pallet from the P1 position rolled aft to the P11 position. Three of the technicians avoided the moving pallet. The fourth technician was trapped by the pallet and sustained serious injury to his foot. The report stated that standard procedures for downloading the airplane were "possibly glazed over." Additionally, the scheduled turn around time for this flight was 45 minutes and "safety might be and has been compromised to make the turn". A Federal Aviation Administration Inspector who responded to the accident reported that the airplane was unloaded improperly. The Burlington training manual specifies that the airplane should be unloaded from the rear of the airplane first.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time05:35 CST
Nearest AirportO'Hare International (0nm)
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftDouglas DC-8-71F
Tail NumberN826BX
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageMinor
OperatorAir Transport International
Operating RulePart 121
Engines4
Engine TypeTurbojet
Engine DetailsCfm · CFM56-2C-1 · Turbojet · 22000
Seats7

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury), 6 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured6
Total7
Crew 1Age 53 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDawn
Wind240° @ 10 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point25 C / 19 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time07:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data