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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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November 13, 1986 · Lockheed L1011 · N714DA

Newark, NJ

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
November 13, 1986
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (137 uninjured)
Location
Newark, NJ
Aircraft
Lockheed L1011
Tail Number
N714DA
Operator
Delta Airlines
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
DCA87MA012

On November 13, 1986, the rear main spar of the right wing failed as Delta Flight 194 touched down on runway 29 at Newark Airport. The pilots stated that there was moderate turbulence on final approach and initial touchdown was on the right main gear first. The touchdown was firm but not hard, which was confirmed from the 1.4G recorded on the DFDR. The 1.4G force is well within the landing gear certification limits. The spar web failure was caused by a fatigue crack that originated at a 'hi-loc' fastener hole located at the lower inboard corner of a doubler that surrounds the fuel filler valve, which is mounted vertically on the spar web. The fatigue zone in the spar web had progressed about 6 3/4 inches before the web failed as the airplane touched down. The fracture in the spar web extended diagonally downward and outboard at 45 degrees from inboard wing station 241.0 to inboard station 293.5. The flight crew did not report any airplane malfunction during the flight.

Full Narrative

ON NOVEMBER 13, 1986, THE REAR MAIN SPAR OF THE RIGHT WING FAILED AS DELTA FLT 194 TOUCHED DOWN ON RWY 29 AT NEWARK AIRPORT. THE PILOTS STATED THAT THERE WAS MODERATE TURBULENCE ON FINAL APPROACH AND INITIAL TOUCHDOWN WAS ON THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR FIRST. THE TOUCHDOWN WAS FIRM BUT NOT HARD WHICH WAS CONFIRMED FROM THE 1.4G RECORDED ON THE DFDR. THE 1.4G FORCE IS WELL WITHIN THE LANDING GEAR CERTIFICATION LIMITS. THE SPAR WEB FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A FATIGUE CRACK THAT ORIGINATED AT A 'HI - LOC' FASTENER HOLE LOCATED AT THE LOWER INBOARD CORNER OF A DOUBLER THAT SURROUNDS THE FUEL FILLER VALVE WHICH IS MOUNTED VERTICALLY ON THE SPAR WEB. THE FATIGUE ZONE IN THE SPAR WEB HAD PROGRESSED ABOUT 6 3/4 INCHES BEFORE THE WEB FAILED AS THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN. THE FRACTURE IN THE SPAR WEB EXTENDED DIAGNALLY DOWNWARD AND OUTBOARD AT 45 DEGREES FROM INBOARD WING STATION 241.0 TO INBOARD STATION 293.5. THE FLIGHT CREW DID NOT REPORT ANY AIRPLANE MALFUNCTION DURING THE FLIGHT.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:25 EST
Nearest AirportNewark International (0nm N)
Runway29
Runway Length6502 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftLockheed L1011
Tail NumberN714DA
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorDelta Airlines
Operating RulePart 121
Engines3
Engine TypeTurbofan
Engine DetailsRolls-Royce · RB-211-22B · Turbofan · 42000
Seats302

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (137 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured137
Total137
Crew 1Age 59 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind320° @ 19 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point39 C / 12 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data