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March 27, 1986 · Boeing 727-231 · N52311

Boston, MA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Incident
Date
March 27, 1986
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 minor injuries), 94 uninjured
Location
Boston, MA
Aircraft
Boeing 727-231
Tail Number
N52311
Operator
Trans World Airlines
Injuries
Minor
NTSB Number
NYC86IA093

TWO OF 3 REQD FLT ATTENDANTS (F/A'S) WERE DISTRIBUTING PASSENGER (PAX) COATS AS THE ACFT WAS BEING TAXIED AFTER LNDG. SMOKE FM AN OVERHEATED AIR COND (A/C) PACK BGN ENTERING THE CABIN & THE F/A'S RETURNED TO THEIR DUTY STATIONS. THE FLT CREW STOPPED THE ACFT AT THE GATE & SHUT DWN THE ENGS, BUT LEFT THE APU RUNNING TO PROVIDE ELECTRICITY FOR LIGHTING. THEF/A'S OPENED THE L FWD DOOR & GND PSNL OPENED THE REAR STAIR DOOR TO DEPLANE THE PAX. THE CAPT MADE AN ANNOUNCEMENT TO KEEP THE PAX CALM, BUT SMOKE BCM DENSE & PAX OPENED THE EMERG EXITS OVR THE WINGS & BGN EXITING FM THEM. TWO PAX RCVD MINOR INJURIES WHILE EXITING OVR THE WINGS. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE ACFT HAD BEEN DISPATCHED WITH THE R PACK COOL-ING FAN INOP AS AUTHORIZED BY THE MIN EQUIP LIST (MEL). DRG FLT, A RADIO INTERFERENCE FILTER IN THE A/C SYS FAILED WHICHALLOWED THE FWD PACK SHUT-OFF VALVE TO OPEN, BUT NOT CLOSE. THIS PERMITTED APU AIR TO RUN THE AFFECTED PACK EVEN THO THESWITCH WAS OFF & A CIRCUIT BRKR WAS PULLED. WITH THE ENGS SHUT DOWN & THE R COOLING FAN INOP, THE SYS OVERHEATED.

Full Narrative

TWO OF 3 REQD FLT ATTENDANTS (F/A'S) WERE DISTRIBUTING PASSENGER (PAX) COATS AS THE ACFT WAS BEING TAXIED AFTER LNDG. SMOKE FM AN OVERHEATED AIR COND (A/C) PACK BGN ENTERING THE CABIN & THE F/A'S RETURNED TO THEIR DUTY STATIONS. THE FLT CREW STOPPED THE ACFT AT THE GATE & SHUT DWN THE ENGS, BUT LEFT THE APU RUNNING TO PROVIDE ELECTRICITY FOR LIGHTING. THEF/A'S OPENED THE L FWD DOOR & GND PSNL OPENED THE REAR STAIR DOOR TO DEPLANE THE PAX. THE CAPT MADE AN ANNOUNCEMENT TO KEEP THE PAX CALM, BUT SMOKE BCM DENSE & PAX OPENED THE EMERG EXITS OVR THE WINGS & BGN EXITING FM THEM. TWO PAX RCVD MINOR INJURIES WHILE EXITING OVR THE WINGS. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE ACFT HAD BEEN DISPATCHED WITH THE R PACK COOL-ING FAN INOP AS AUTHORIZED BY THE MIN EQUIP LIST (MEL). DRG FLT, A RADIO INTERFERENCE FILTER IN THE A/C SYS FAILED WHICHALLOWED THE FWD PACK SHUT-OFF VALVE TO OPEN, BUT NOT CLOSE. THIS PERMITTED APU AIR TO RUN THE AFFECTED PACK EVEN THO THESWITCH WAS OFF & A CIRCUIT BRKR WAS PULLED. WITH THE ENGS SHUT DOWN & THE R COOLING FAN INOP, THE SYS OVERHEATED.

Flight

Event TypeIncident
Event Time23:41 EST
Nearest AirportLogan Intl (0nm N)
Runway22L
Runway Length10005 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBoeing 727-231
Tail NumberN52311
Aircraft CategoryAir
OperatorTrans World Airlines
Operating RulePart 121
Engines3
Engine TypeTurbofan
Engine DetailsP&W · JT8D-9A · Turbofan
Seats134

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 minor injuries), 94 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor2
Uninjured94
Total96
Crew 1Age 48 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightBright Night
Wind220° @ 15 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point54 / 46
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time04:51
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data