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February 12, 1987 · Boeing 747-122 · N4718U

Detroit, MI

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
February 12, 1987
Injury Outcomes
19 injuries (3 serious injuries, 16 minor injuries), 222 uninjured
Location
Detroit, MI
Aircraft
Boeing 747-122
Tail Number
N4718U
Operator
United Airlines
Injuries
Serious
NTSB Number
CHI87FA081

DRG FLT, UNITED FLT 108 RECD INFO OF A BOMB THREAT. DUE TO A SHORT TIME LIMIT, SPECIFIED IN THE THREAT, THE FLT DIVERTEDTO DETROIT & THE SLIDES WERE USED TO EVACUATE THE ACFT; 8 OF 10 SLIDES DEPLOYED NMLY & WERE USED. THE SLIDE AT DOOR 4R DIDN'T INFLATE & WASN'T USED. THE FLT ATTENDANT (F/A) AT DOOR 5R PERCEIVED THAT THE SLIDE (SLIDE/RAFT) AT THAT LCTN WAS INFLATING SLOWLY. SHE PULLED WHAT SHE THOUGHT WAS THE MANUAL INFLATION HANDLE (MIH) & HEARD A HISSING SOUND. SHE THEN SENT 2 HELPERS (PAX) DWN THE SLIDE. AS THEY EGRESSED, THE SLIDE SEPD FM THE ACFT & FELL TO THE GND; 1 OF THE 2 RECD A SERIOUS BACK INJURY. AS OTR SLIDES WERE USED, 2 OTR PAX RECD SERIOUS LEG INJURIES & 16 PAX RECD MINOR INJURIES. AN INV REVEALED THE F/A AT DOOR 5R INADVERTENTLY PULLED THE RELEASE HANDLE (RH) WHEN SHE ATMTD TO USE THE MIH. BOTH HANDLES WERE MADE OF CANVAS MTRL & WERE ABOUT THE SAME SIZE. THE MIH WAS RED WITH A PIECE OF WHITE MTRL MARKED 'PULL' IN RED LTRS; THE RH WAS WHITE & WAS ALSO MARKED 'PULL' IN RED LTRS. NO REASON WAS FND FOR THE SLIDE AT DOOR 4R NOT TO ENFLATE.

Full Narrative

DRG FLT, UNITED FLT 108 RECD INFO OF A BOMB THREAT. DUE TO A SHORT TIME LIMIT, SPECIFIED IN THE THREAT, THE FLT DIVERTEDTO DETROIT & THE SLIDES WERE USED TO EVACUATE THE ACFT; 8 OF 10 SLIDES DEPLOYED NMLY & WERE USED. THE SLIDE AT DOOR 4R DIDN'T INFLATE & WASN'T USED. THE FLT ATTENDANT (F/A) AT DOOR 5R PERCEIVED THAT THE SLIDE (SLIDE/RAFT) AT THAT LCTN WAS INFLATING SLOWLY. SHE PULLED WHAT SHE THOUGHT WAS THE MANUAL INFLATION HANDLE (MIH) & HEARD A HISSING SOUND. SHE THEN SENT 2 HELPERS (PAX) DWN THE SLIDE. AS THEY EGRESSED, THE SLIDE SEPD FM THE ACFT & FELL TO THE GND; 1 OF THE 2 RECD A SERIOUS BACK INJURY. AS OTR SLIDES WERE USED, 2 OTR PAX RECD SERIOUS LEG INJURIES & 16 PAX RECD MINOR INJURIES. AN INV REVEALED THE F/A AT DOOR 5R INADVERTENTLY PULLED THE RELEASE HANDLE (RH) WHEN SHE ATMTD TO USE THE MIH. BOTH HANDLES WERE MADE OF CANVAS MTRL & WERE ABOUT THE SAME SIZE. THE MIH WAS RED WITH A PIECE OF WHITE MTRL MARKED 'PULL' IN RED LTRS; THE RH WAS WHITE & WAS ALSO MARKED 'PULL' IN RED LTRS. NO REASON WAS FND FOR THE SLIDE AT DOOR 4R NOT TO ENFLATE.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time23:17 EST
Nearest AirportDetroit Metro Wayne Co (0nm N)
Runway3R
Runway Length10000 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBoeing 747-122
Tail NumberN4718U
Aircraft CategoryAir
OperatorUnited Airlines
Operating RulePart 121
Engines4
Engine TypeTurbofan
Engine DetailsP&W · JT9D · Turbofan · 46250
Seats445

People & Injuries

Injury Summary19 injuries (3 serious injuries, 16 minor injuries), 222 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious3
Minor16
Uninjured222
Total241
Crew 1Age 58 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDark Night
Wind80° @ 9 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 4500 ft
Temperature / Dew Point32 C / 25 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time15:51
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data