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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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June 24, 1986 · Boeing 747-122 · N4718U

Pacific Ocean, PO

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Incident
Date
June 24, 1986
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (436 uninjured)
Location
Pacific Ocean, PO
Aircraft
Boeing 747-122
Tail Number
N4718U
Injuries
None
NTSB Number
LAX86MA275

WHILE UAL FLT 1 WAS CRUISING AT FL 310, APRX 1.8 HR AFTER TAKEOFF, A FLT ATTENDANT (F/A) RPRTD A HEADACHE & LIGHTHEADED-NESS. THE FLT CLIMBED TO FL 350, THEN ANOTHER F/A & SVRL PAX RPRTD SIMILAR SYMPTOMS. AT THAT TIME, THE TROPOPAUSE WAS AT40,000'. AS THE FLT CONTD, THE TROPOPAUSE LOWERED SOME, THEN INCREASED IN ALT. SUBSEQUENTLY, SVRL OTHER OCCUPANTS HAD SIMILAR SYMPTOMS. THE CAPT TURNED ON THE 'NO SMOKING' SIGN AS A PSBL SOLUTION, BUT THIS DID NOT SEEM TO HELP. NO HAZARD-OUS CARGO LEAK WAS FND & NO PAX ADMITTED CARRYING BUTANE OR OTHER SUCH SUBSTANCE. THOSE AFFECTED BY THE PSBL IRRITATING OR GASEOUS SUBSTANCE WERE IN ZONES B, C, D, E OR THE UPPER DECK OF THE ACFT. NO OCCUPANTS OF ZONE A OR THE FLT DECK WEREAFFECTED, EXCEPT THE 2ND OFFICER RPRTD A SLIGHT PAIN BETWEEN HIS EYEBROWS AFTER SPENDING 10 TO 20 MIN IN THE PAX CABIN. AN INVESTIGATION FOR A POSSIBLE OZONE ENCOUNTER WAS MADE, BUT NO SPECIFIC EVIDENCE WAS FOUND. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS IN THE AIR CONDITIONING SYS WERE TESTED & FOUND TO BE 51.2% EFFICIENT.

Full Narrative

WHILE UAL FLT 1 WAS CRUISING AT FL 310, APRX 1.8 HR AFTER TAKEOFF, A FLT ATTENDANT (F/A) RPRTD A HEADACHE & LIGHTHEADED-NESS. THE FLT CLIMBED TO FL 350, THEN ANOTHER F/A & SVRL PAX RPRTD SIMILAR SYMPTOMS. AT THAT TIME, THE TROPOPAUSE WAS AT40,000'. AS THE FLT CONTD, THE TROPOPAUSE LOWERED SOME, THEN INCREASED IN ALT. SUBSEQUENTLY, SVRL OTHER OCCUPANTS HAD SIMILAR SYMPTOMS. THE CAPT TURNED ON THE 'NO SMOKING' SIGN AS A PSBL SOLUTION, BUT THIS DID NOT SEEM TO HELP. NO HAZARD-OUS CARGO LEAK WAS FND & NO PAX ADMITTED CARRYING BUTANE OR OTHER SUCH SUBSTANCE. THOSE AFFECTED BY THE PSBL IRRITATING OR GASEOUS SUBSTANCE WERE IN ZONES B, C, D, E OR THE UPPER DECK OF THE ACFT. NO OCCUPANTS OF ZONE A OR THE FLT DECK WEREAFFECTED, EXCEPT THE 2ND OFFICER RPRTD A SLIGHT PAIN BETWEEN HIS EYEBROWS AFTER SPENDING 10 TO 20 MIN IN THE PAX CABIN. AN INVESTIGATION FOR A POSSIBLE OZONE ENCOUNTER WAS MADE, BUT NO SPECIFIC EVIDENCE WAS FOUND. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS IN THE AIR CONDITIONING SYS WERE TESTED & FOUND TO BE 51.2% EFFICIENT.

Flight

Event TypeIncident
Event Time20:00 UTC
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBoeing 747-122
Tail NumberN4718U
Aircraft CategoryAir
Operating RulePart 121
Engines4
Engine TypeTurbofan
Engine DetailsUnknown · UNKNOWN · Turbofan
Seats495

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (436 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured436
Total436
Crew 1Age 59 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data