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September 12, 1988 · Mcdonnell Douglas DC-10-10 · N1830U

Denver, CO

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 12, 1988
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury), 206 uninjured
Location
Denver, CO
Aircraft
Mcdonnell Douglas DC-10-10
Tail Number
N1830U
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
DEN88MA203

AS THE CAPT WAS DEPLOYING REVERSERS DRG LNDG, #2 & #3 REVERSERS UNLOCKED & DEPLOYED (GREEN LGT COND), BUT #1 REVERSER WAS BINDING & ONLY MOVED TO THE UNLOCKED PSN (AMBER LGT COND). CAPT WAS NOT WARNED OF THIS COND, THOUGH 2ND OFFICER SHOULD HAVE MONITORED LGTS. CAPT SAID HE RCHD TO CHECK #1 LEVER. AT ABT THAT TIME, ACFT YAWED RGT. DESPITE IMT ACTION BYTHE CAPT, DRCTNL CTL OF ACFT WAS LOST DUE TO YAWING CAUSED BY INOP THRUST REVERSER. ACFT CONTD OFF RWY, CROSSED 2 TWYS &NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED. AFTER STOPPING, EVACUATION WAS ORDERED. EVACUATION SLIDES DEPLOYED NMLY, BUT WITH THE ACFT ON ITS NOSE, USE OF SLIDES AT DOORS 4L & 4R WAS DISCONTINUED DUE TO EXCESSIVE VERTICAL ANGLE OF SLIDES. INV REVEALED THAT AFTERTCHDWN, #1 ENG ACCELERATED WITH FWD THRUST AS #2 & #3 ENGS PROVIDED REVERSE THRUST. AT ABT THE SAME TIME, THE ACFT'S NOSE LIFTED OFF THE RWY TO A 4 DEG ATTITUDE & THE ACFT WENT OFF THE RWY. AN EXAM OF THE THROTTLE QUADRANT REVEALED THE S1-847 SW WAS CURLED/TWISTED & 2 SUPPORT SHAFTS (HOLDING THE SWS) WERE BENT CAUSING INTMT OPN OF THE #1 REVERSER.

Full Narrative

AS THE CAPT WAS DEPLOYING REVERSERS DRG LNDG, #2 & #3 REVERSERS UNLOCKED & DEPLOYED (GREEN LGT COND), BUT #1 REVERSER WAS BINDING & ONLY MOVED TO THE UNLOCKED PSN (AMBER LGT COND). CAPT WAS NOT WARNED OF THIS COND, THOUGH 2ND OFFICER SHOULD HAVE MONITORED LGTS. CAPT SAID HE RCHD TO CHECK #1 LEVER. AT ABT THAT TIME, ACFT YAWED RGT. DESPITE IMT ACTION BYTHE CAPT, DRCTNL CTL OF ACFT WAS LOST DUE TO YAWING CAUSED BY INOP THRUST REVERSER. ACFT CONTD OFF RWY, CROSSED 2 TWYS &NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED. AFTER STOPPING, EVACUATION WAS ORDERED. EVACUATION SLIDES DEPLOYED NMLY, BUT WITH THE ACFT ON ITS NOSE, USE OF SLIDES AT DOORS 4L & 4R WAS DISCONTINUED DUE TO EXCESSIVE VERTICAL ANGLE OF SLIDES. INV REVEALED THAT AFTERTCHDWN, #1 ENG ACCELERATED WITH FWD THRUST AS #2 & #3 ENGS PROVIDED REVERSE THRUST. AT ABT THE SAME TIME, THE ACFT'S NOSE LIFTED OFF THE RWY TO A 4 DEG ATTITUDE & THE ACFT WENT OFF THE RWY. AN EXAM OF THE THROTTLE QUADRANT REVEALED THE S1-847 SW WAS CURLED/TWISTED & 2 SUPPORT SHAFTS (HOLDING THE SWS) WERE BENT CAUSING INTMT OPN OF THE #1 REVERSER.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:50 MDT
Nearest AirportStapleton Intl (0nm N)
Runway26L
Runway Length10004 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftMcdonnell Douglas DC-10-10
Tail NumberN1830U
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 121
Engines3
Engine TypeTurbofan
Engine DetailsGe · CF6-6D · Turbofan · 39300
Seats257

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury), 206 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured206
Total207
Crew 1Age 56 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind360° @ 7 kt
Visibility5 sm
CeilingOvercast 1400 ft
Temperature / Dew Point45 C / 43 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time19:51
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data