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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

April 12, 1993 · Boeing 747-269BC · 9KADD

Alexandria, LA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Incident
Date
April 12, 1993
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (40 uninjured)
Location
Alexandria, LA
Aircraft
Boeing 747-269BC
Tail Number
9KADD
Operator
Kuwait Airlines
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Minor
NTSB Number
FTW93IA125

A SLIGHT VIBRATION WAS FELT AS THE AIRPLANE WAS CLIMBING THROUGH FL310 FOR AN ASSIGNED ALTITUDE OF FL390 DURING A DOMESTIC IFR CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. A PASSENGER SEATED ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE AIRPLANE OBSERVED PORTIONS OF THE SKIN ON A NON-STRUCTURAL WING PANEL ON THE LEFT WING PEELING OFF AND SEPARATING FROM THE WING AND INFORMED A CREWMENBER OF THE CONDITION. A PRECAUTINARY LANDING WAS MADE WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED THAT A SECTION, 48 INCHES WIDE BY 31 INCHES LONG, HAD SEPARATED FROM THE TRAILING EDGE OF THE FIXED TRAILING EDGE UPPER PANEL ON THE LEFT WING. ADDITIONALLY, A THREE INCH PORTION OF THE TRAILING EDGE ON THE LEFT FORE FLAP PANEL WAS ALSO DAMAGED, AND SEPARATED FROM THE AIRPLANE. ACCORDING TO MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL CONTRACTED BY THE OPERATOR, THE DELAMINATION OF THE HONYCOMB PANEL WAS THE RESULT OF WATER CONTAMINATION.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE INFLIGHT DELAMINATION OF THE WING PANEL SKIN. FACTORS WERE THE WATER CONTAMINATION OF THE HONEYCOMB PANEL.

Full Narrative

On April 12, 1993, at approximately 0954 central daylight time, a Boeing 747-269BC, Kuwait registration 9KADD, operating as Kuwait Airlines Flight 091, sustained minor damage when a non structural panel on the left wing became delaminated while the airplane was climbing through FL 310, approximately 25 miles south of Alexandria, Louisiana. There were no injuries to the 24 passengers, 6 flight crewmenbers, and 10 flight attendants aboard. The airplane departed Ellington Field (EFD) near Houston, Texas, at approximately 0921, enroute to Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland. A passenger seated on the left side of the airplane observed portions of the skin on a wing panel on the left wing peeling off and informed a crewmember of the condition. The airplane was diverted to the Houston Intercontinental Airport (IAH), in Houston, Texas, where a uneventful landing was made at 1028, with airport emergency equipment standing by. According to the operator, a slight vibration was felt on the left side of the airplane after part of the skin departed the airplane. Physical examination of the airplane revealed that a section (48 inches wide by 31 inches long), separated from the trailing edge of the fixed trailing edge upper panel (part number 65B22845 33) on the left wing. There was evidence of delamination, working rivets, and rows of rivets pulled through the skin on the remaining fiberglass laminated honeycomb panel. Additionally, a 3 inch portion of the trailing edge on the left wing fore flap panel, was also damaged and separated from the aircraft. There was no other damage to the airplane. According to maintenance personnel returning the airplane to service, the delamination of the honeycomb panel was the result of water contamination.

Flight

Event TypeIncident
Event Time09:54 CDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBoeing 747-269BC
Tail Number9KADD
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageMinor
OperatorKuwait Airlines
Operating RulePart 129
Engines4
Engine TypeTurbojet
Engine DetailsP&W · JT9D-7A · Turbojet
Seats60

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (40 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured40
Total40
Crew 1None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind190° @ 5 kt
Visibility20 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point70 F / 54
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time14:54
Weather SourceWIT

Appendix: Source Data