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NTSB Report
August 11, 1987 · Boeing 747-200B · JA182
Washington, DC
Overview
Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 11, 1987
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality), 334 uninjured
Location
Washington, DC
Aircraft
Boeing 747-200B
Tail Number
JA182
Operator
All Nippon Airways
Injuries
Fatal
NTSB Number
BFO87FA053
A FLIGHT ATTENDANT FELL FROM THE ACFT DURING OPENING OF THE L5 DOOR. THE F/A WAS HELPING A COMPANY GROUND PERSON, WHO WAS OUTSIDE ON THE BOARDING STEP. THE BOARDING STEP WAS NOT AGAINST THE ACFT BUT ABOUT 1 FT AWAY FROM IT. WHEN THE DOOR WAS OPENED, THE F/A FELL THRU THE OPEN DOORWAY AND TO THE GROUND ABOUT 20 FT BELOW. THE COMPANY PROCEDURE REQUIRES HAND SIGNAL COMMUNICATION BETWEEN PERSONNEL INSIDE AND OUTSIDE DURING DOOR OPENING. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT RADIO COMMUNICATIONS WERE BEING USED BETWEEN THE GROUND PERSONNEL AND A COMPANY REP. THE GROUND PERSON COULD NOT ACTIVATE THE DOOR AND REQUESTED THE COMPANY REP TO OPEN IT. THE DOOR STILL WOULD NOT OPEN. THE COMPANY REP REQUESTED HELP FROM THE NEARBY FLIGHT ATTENDANT. THE BOARDING STEPS WERE INITIALLY FULLY AGAINST THE AIRCRAFT BUT WERE PULLED AWAY WHEN THE DOOR WOULD NOT CLEAR THE HANDRAILS OF THE BOARDING STEP. THE AIRFRAME HAS A CURVATURE AT THE L5 DOOR LOCATION. THE BOARDING STEP IS SQUARE SHAPED.
Full Narrative
A FLIGHT ATTENDANT FELL FROM THE ACFT DURING OPENING OF THE L5 DOOR. THE F/A WAS HELPING A COMPANY GROUND PERSON, WHO WAS OUTSIDE ON THE BOARDING STEP. THE BOARDING STEP WAS NOT AGAINST THE ACFT BUT ABOUT 1 FT AWAY FROM IT. WHEN THE DOOR WAS OPENED, THE F/A FELL THRU THE OPEN DOORWAY AND TO THE GROUND ABOUT 20 FT BELOW. THE COMPANY PROCEDURE REQUIRES HAND SIGNAL COMMUNICATION BETWEEN PERSONNEL INSIDE AND OUTSIDE DURING DOOR OPENING. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT RADIO COMMUNICATIONS WERE BEING USED BETWEEN THE GROUND PERSONNEL AND A COMPANY REP. THE GROUND PERSON COULD NOT ACTIVATE THE DOOR AND REQUESTED THE COMPANY REP TO OPEN IT. THE DOOR STILL WOULD NOT OPEN. THE COMPANY REP REQUESTED HELP FROM THE NEARBY FLIGHT ATTENDANT. THE BOARDING STEPS WERE INITIALLY FULLY AGAINST THE AIRCRAFT BUT WERE PULLED AWAY WHEN THE DOOR WOULD NOT CLEAR THE HANDRAILS OF THE BOARDING STEP. THE AIRFRAME HAS A CURVATURE AT THE L5 DOOR LOCATION. THE BOARDING STEP IS SQUARE SHAPED.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:25 EDT
Nearest AirportDulles Intl. (0nm N)
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo
Aircraft
AircraftBoeing 747-200B
Tail NumberJA182
Aircraft CategoryAir
OperatorAll Nippon Airways
Operating RulePart 129
Engines4
Engine TypeTurbofan
Engine DetailsGe · CF6-50E2 · Turbofan · 20500
Seats325
People & Injuries
Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality), 334 uninjured
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured334
Total335
Crew 1Age 47 · Unknown
Conditions
ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind50° @ 10 kt
Visibility20 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time16:00