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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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December 31, 1989 · Boeing 737-204 · N198AW

Tucson, AZ

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
December 31, 1989
Injury Outcomes
10 injuries (10 minor injuries), 123 uninjured
Location
Tucson, AZ
Aircraft
Boeing 737-204
Tail Number
N198AW
Operator
America West Airlines
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
LAX90FA061

During approach, a fire erupted in the wheel well of the 22-yr old airplane. The fire burned thru the hydraulic lines rendering the A, B, & standby HYD systems inop. The crew landed the airplane using the emergency manual reversion flight control system. However, the airplane was unable to stop on the runway because of the previous failures of the check valves in the backup HYD accumulator pressure systems for the #2 thrust reverser and the inboard pair of wheel brakes. During the 2 min rollout, the airplane traversed 14,000 ft, overran the RWY end, and collided with a concrete structure which collapsed the nose gear. The airplane had recently undergone a 'C' check during which the operator's mechanics failed to observe & repair an electric wire which had been chafing against a HYD line. On the accident flight the energized wire arced, punctured the line, & ignited the escaping HYD fluid. The HYD check valves had failed earlier due to mechanical wear.

NTSB Probable Cause

FAILURE OF THE OPERATOR'S MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL TO DETECT AN ELECTRICAL WIRE WHICH HAD CHAFED AGAINST A HYDRAULIC LINE AND WHICH EVENTUALLY ARCED CAUSING A LEAK IN THE HYDRAULIC LINE AND SUBSEQUENT FIRE AND HYDRAULIC SYSTEM FAILURE. IN ADDITION, PREVIOUS WEAR OF CHECK VALVES IN THE BACKUP HYDRAULIC SYSTEMS PREVENTED THE AIRPLANE FROM STOPPING ON THE RUNWAY. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THE AIRPLANE MANUFACTURER'S INADEQUATE GUIDANCE FOR MAINTAINING THE HYDRAULIC COMPONENTS.

Full Narrative

DURING APPROACH, A FIRE ERUPTED IN THE WHEEL WELL OF THE 22-YR OLD AIRPLANE. THE FIRE BURNED THRU THE HYDRAULIC LINES RENDERING THE A, B, & STANDBY HYD SYSTEMS INOP. THE CREW LANDED THE AIRPLANE USING THE EMERGENCY MANUAL REVERSION FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM. HOWEVER, THE AIRPLANE WAS UNABLE TO STOP ON THE RUNWAY BECAUSE OF THE PREVIOUS FAILURES OF THE CHECK VALVES IN THE BACKUP HYD ACCUMULATOR PRESSURE SYSTEMS FOR THE #2 THRUST REVERSER AND THE INBOARD PAIR OF WHEEL BRAKES. DURING THE 2 MIN ROLLOUT, THE AIRPLANE TRAVERSED 14,000 FT, OVERRAN THE RWY END, AND COLLIDED WITH A CONCRETE STRUCTURE WHICH COLLAPSED THE NOSE GEAR. THE AIRPLANE HAD RECENTLY UNDERGONE A 'C' CHECK DURING WHICH THE OPERATOR'S MECHANICS FAILED TO OBSERVE & REPAIR AN ELECTRIC WIRE WHICH HAD BEEN CHAFING AGAINST A HYD LINE. ON THE ACCIDENT FLT THE ENERGIZED WIRE ARCED, PUNCTURED THE LINE, & IGNITED THE ESCAPING HYD FLUID. THE HYD CHECK VALVES HAD FAILED EARLIER DUE TO MECHANICAL WEAR.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time19:01 MST
Nearest AirportTucson Int'L (0nm N)
Runway29R
Runway Length10994 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireBoth
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBoeing 737-204
Tail NumberN198AW
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorAmerica West Airlines
Operating RulePart 121
Engines2
Engine TypeTurbofan
Engine DetailsP&W · JT8D-9A · Turbofan · 14500
Seats122

People & Injuries

Injury Summary10 injuries (10 minor injuries), 123 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor10
Uninjured123
Total133
Crew 1Age 33 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDark Night
Wind260° @ 9 kt
Visibility30 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point50 / 39 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time02:10
Weather SourceWIT

Appendix: Source Data