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NTSB Report
November 28, 1985 · Boeing 747-251F · N619US
Glen Ellyn, IL
Overview
Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Incident
Date
November 28, 1985
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (3 uninjured)
Location
Glen Ellyn, IL
Aircraft
Boeing 747-251F
Tail Number
N619US
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Minor
NTSB Number
CHI86IA034
DURING CLIMB A BANG WAS HEARD AND THE AIRCRAFT SHUDDERED. THE CREW STATED THAT THE NUMBER THREE ENGINE OIL PRESSURE AND OIL QUANTITY INDICATED LOW. THE FIRE WARNING LIGHT AND BELL ACTIVVATED. THE ENGINE WAS SHUT DOWN AND THE AIRCRAFT LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. POSTFLIGHT INSPECTION REVEALED THE OUTBOARD COWLING OF THE NUMBER THREE ENGINE HAD SEPARATED. THE COWLING WAS FOUND IN A SUBURB TEN MILES SOUTHWEST OF THE AIRPORT. ENGINE TEARDOWN REVEALED A CRACK IN A VENT LINE STRUT IN THE DIFFUSER AREA ALLOWING BLEED AIR TO IGNITE OIL IN THE NUMBER THREE BEARING AREA. PRESSURE FORCED THE FIRE TO VENT THROUGH THE COMPARTMENT BREATHER AIR TUBE DISINTEGRATING THE MAIN BEARING BREATHER TUGE ELBOW. THE FORCE OF THE EXPLOSION AT THE DISINTEGRATING ELBOW BLEW THE OUTBOARD COWLING OFF.
Full Narrative
DURING CLIMB A BANG WAS HEARD AND THE AIRCRAFT SHUDDERED. THE CREW STATED THAT THE NUMBER THREE ENGINE OIL PRESSURE AND OIL QUANTITY INDICATED LOW. THE FIRE WARNING LIGHT AND BELL ACTIVVATED. THE ENGINE WAS SHUT DOWN AND THE AIRCRAFT LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. POSTFLIGHT INSPECTION REVEALED THE OUTBOARD COWLING OF THE NUMBER THREE ENGINE HAD SEPARATED. THE COWLING WAS FOUND IN A SUBURB TEN MILES SOUTHWEST OF THE AIRPORT. ENGINE TEARDOWN REVEALED A CRACK IN A VENT LINE STRUT IN THE DIFFUSER AREA ALLOWING BLEED AIR TO IGNITE OIL IN THE NUMBER THREE BEARING AREA. PRESSURE FORCED THE FIRE TO VENT THROUGH THE COMPARTMENT BREATHER AIR TUBE DISINTEGRATING THE MAIN BEARING BREATHER TUGE ELBOW. THE FORCE OF THE EXPLOSION AT THE DISINTEGRATING ELBOW BLEW THE OUTBOARD COWLING OFF.
Flight
Event TypeIncident
Event Time10:45 CST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireIflt
Aircraft ExplosionIflt
Aircraft
AircraftBoeing 747-251F
Tail NumberN619US
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageMinor
Operating RulePart 121
Engines4
Engine TypeTurbofan
Engine DetailsP&W · JT9D-3 SER · Turbofan · 14500
Seats7
People & Injuries
Injury SummaryNo injuries (3 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured3
Total3
Crew 1Age 47 · First Class
Conditions
ConditionsIMC
LightDaylight
Wind130° @ 11 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingOvercast 1500 ft
Temperature / Dew Point39 C / 0 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time16:50
Weather SourceWFAC