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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

September 25, 1993 · Boeing 747-200 · N629US

Anchorage, AK

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Incident
Date
September 25, 1993
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (3 uninjured)
Location
Anchorage, AK
Aircraft
Boeing 747-200
Tail Number
N629US
Operator
Northwest Airlines
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Minor
NTSB Number
ANC93IA188

A 28 OUNCE DUCK WAS INGESTED INTO A JT9 TURBOFAN ENGINE OF A B747 ON TAKEOFF, IMPACTING AND BREAKING THE 10 PLY FIBERGLASS FAN SPINNER. DOWNSTREAM ENGINE DESTRUCTION FOLLOWED. ENGINE MANUFACTURE AND FAA WAS AWARE OF A NUMBER OF PREVIOUS BIRD-STRIKE FAILURES WITH THIS SPINNER. NEW AND STRONGER 20 PLY SPINNERS ARE BEING PHASED IN; HOWEVER, THIN SPINNERS ARE STILL IN USE ON JT9 ENGINES IN COMMERCIAL SERVICE.

NTSB Probable Cause

FOREIGN OBJECT DAMAGE TO THE COMPRESSOR FORWARD FAN ASSEMBLY AS A RESULT OF THE INGESTION OF A BIRD.

Full Narrative

On September 25, 1993, at 0835, Alaska daylight time, a Boeing 747-200, N629US, experienced a partial power loss after it had ingested 28 ounce Gadwell duck into its number one engine during takeoff rotation at Anchorage International Airport. The pilot in command shut down the affected engine, dumped fuel and landed without further incident at 0911. The airplane was operated by Northwest Airlines on a regularly scheduled cargo flight to Tokyo as NW Flight 905, under 14 CFR Part 121, on an international IFR flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions existed. A flight crew of 3 were the only persons on board, and they were uninjured. Damage was limited to the number one engine and the event was classified as incident damage. The pilot told NTSB and FAA investigators that while he noticed waterfowl in the area on taxi out, he did not see birds at the time he experienced the engine failure. The airplane reportedly weighed 752,000 pounds at takeoff and dumped 84,300 pounds of fuel while orbiting at the direction of ATC. The landing gross weight was approximately 628,000 pounds. Investigators found blood and material resembling feather parts in the number one engine inlet. Damage was seen to the rotor blades of the fan, inside and outside of the inlet cowl. The fiberglass spinner cone was destroyed. No wing or fuselage damage was seen. The engine damage was examined by Northwest Airlines with the assistance of Pratt & Whitney. The NTSB was advised that failure was due to downstream ingestion of fiberglass spinner parts and pieces of first stage fan blades. The NTSB investigator contacted Pratt & Whitney at East Hartford Connecticut. The powerplant investigator at P&W told the NTSB that there "were a limited amount of 10 ply fiberglass spinners out there." He said that "P&W was aware of about one inflight failure per year with these thin spinners from bird strikes." He also said that he and the FAA had discussed it and didn't feel that an AD (Airworthiness Directive) was necessary, but that they were watching the numbers (as an in-house study). He also said that these were being replaced with a newer model spinner that had 20 plys, and there were no known instances of inflight failure known. The findings of the investigation were forwarded to the NTSB's Engineering Division ((AS-40). On October 4, 1993, the NTSB NW Field Office was advised that the Engineering Division was reviewing the information for possible safety recommendation activity.

Flight

Event TypeIncident
Event Time08:35 AKDT
Nearest AirportAnchorage (1nm WSW)
Runway32
Runway Length10496 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBoeing 747-200
Tail NumberN629US
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageMinor
OperatorNorthwest Airlines
Operating RulePart 121
Engines4
Engine TypeTurbofan
Engine DetailsP&W · JT9-D7F · Turbofan · 58000
Seats286

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (3 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured3
Total3
Crew 1First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind340° @ 10 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingOvercast 6000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point45 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Observation Time08:45

Appendix: Source Data