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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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April 16, 1988 · De Havilland DHC-8 · N819PH

Seattle, WA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 16, 1988
Injury Outcomes
31 injuries (4 serious injuries, 27 minor injuries), 9 uninjured
Location
Seattle, WA
Aircraft
De Havilland DHC-8
Tail Number
N819PH
Operator
Horizon Air
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
DCA88MA052

SHORTLY AFTER TKOF FROM SEATTLE-TACOMA INTL AIRPORT, THE CREW NOTED A RT ENG POWER LOSS AND DECIDED TO RETURN FOR A PRECAUTIONARY LNDG. AFTER LOWERING THE LNDG GEAR, A MASSIVE FIRE WAS DISCOVERED IN THE RT ENG NACELLE. AFTER LNDG, DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND ALL BRAKING WAS LOST. THE ACFT DEPARTED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RWY 16L AFTER THE LEFT POWER LEVER WAS MOVED TO FLT IDLE. THE F/O ADVISED TWR THAT THE ACFT WAS OUT OF CONTROL. THE ACFT ROLLED ONTO THE RAMP AREA WHERE IT STRUCK A RWY DESIGNATOR SIGN, GROUND EQUIPMENT, AND JETWAYS B7 AND B9. THE ACFT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY DESTROYED BY FIRE. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT DURING OVERHAUL THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL FILTER COVER WAS IMPROPERLY INSTALLED ON THE ENG AND THE IMPROPER INSTALLATION WAS NOT DISCOVERED DRG COMPANY INSTALLATION OF THE ENG ON THE ACFT. THIS LED TO A MASSIVE FUELLEAK AND THE NACELLE FIRE. THE FIRE/EXPLOSION CAUSED THE LOSS OF THE ENG PANELS, REDUCING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM AND ALLOWING OTHER SYSTEMS TO BE DAMAGED. (FOR FURTHER INFORMATION-SEE NTSB/AAR-89/02.)

Full Narrative

SHORTLY AFTER TKOF FROM SEATTLE-TACOMA INTL AIRPORT, THE CREW NOTED A RT ENG POWER LOSS AND DECIDED TO RETURN FOR A PRECAUTIONARY LNDG. AFTER LOWERING THE LNDG GEAR, A MASSIVE FIRE WAS DISCOVERED IN THE RT ENG NACELLE. AFTER LNDG, DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND ALL BRAKING WAS LOST. THE ACFT DEPARTED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RWY 16L AFTER THE LEFT POWER LEVER WAS MOVED TO FLT IDLE. THE F/O ADVISED TWR THAT THE ACFT WAS OUT OF CONTROL. THE ACFT ROLLED ONTO THE RAMP AREA WHERE IT STRUCK A RWY DESIGNATOR SIGN, GROUND EQUIPMENT, AND JETWAYS B7 AND B9. THE ACFT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY DESTROYED BY FIRE. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT DURING OVERHAUL THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL FILTER COVER WAS IMPROPERLY INSTALLED ON THE ENG AND THE IMPROPER INSTALLATION WAS NOT DISCOVERED DRG COMPANY INSTALLATION OF THE ENG ON THE ACFT. THIS LED TO A MASSIVE FUELLEAK AND THE NACELLE FIRE. THE FIRE/EXPLOSION CAUSED THE LOSS OF THE ENG PANELS, REDUCING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM AND ALLOWING OTHER SYSTEMS TO BE DAMAGED. (FOR FURTHER INFORMATION-SEE NTSB/AAR-89/02.)

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time18:32 PDT
Nearest AirportSeattle-Tacoma Intl (0nm N)
Runway16L
Runway Length11400 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireIflt
Aircraft ExplosionIflt

Aircraft

AircraftDe Havilland DHC-8
Tail NumberN819PH
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorHorizon Air
Operating RulePart 121
Engines2
Engine TypeTurboprop
Engine DetailsP&W · PW120A · Turboprop · 2100
Seats40

People & Injuries

Injury Summary31 injuries (4 serious injuries, 27 minor injuries), 9 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious4
Minor27
Uninjured9
Total40
Crew 1Age 38 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind240° @ 8 kt
Visibility7 sm
CeilingOvercast 2800 ft
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data