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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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October 27, 1984 · Mcdonnell Douglas DC-10-30 · N1852U

Chicago, IL

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Incident
Date
October 27, 1984
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (276 uninjured)
Location
Chicago, IL
Aircraft
Mcdonnell Douglas DC-10-30
Tail Number
N1852U
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Minor
NTSB Number
CHI85IA032

Shortly after takeoff, the flight crew heard a noise from the right side of the aircraft, which sounded like an engine compressor stall. The #3 engine was shut down and the crew made an uneventful landing at the departure airport. Pieces of cowling from the right engine fell in a residential area, but did no damage. Teardown of the engine revealed that turbine blades on the first stage low pressure turbine wheel had broken off and had penetrated the engine case and core cowl doors. Further investigation revealed that 2 stud bolts (saddle bolts) had pulled out from strut bosses 2 and 3 in the turbine mid frame (TMF), which placed an additional load on strut bosses 1 and 4. Eventually, the 1 and 4 saddle bolts pulled loose and allowed the nozzle support flange to shift rearward. This shift allowed the nozzle segments to come in contact with the low pressure turbine and result in the failure. There was indication that unauthorized rework had been accomplished on the saddle bolts before owner (United Airline) had purchased the airplane from another (Laker) airline.

Full Narrative

SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE FLIGHT CREW HEARD A NOISE FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE AIRCRAFT, WHICH SOUNDED LIKE AN ENGINE COMPRESSOR STALL. THE #3 ENGINE WAS SHUT DOWN & THE CREW MADE AN UNEVENTFUL LANDING AT THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT. PIECES OF COWLING FROM THE RIGHT ENGINE FELL IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA, BUT DID NO DAMAGE. TEARDOWN OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT TURBINE BLADES ON THE FIRST STAGE LOW PRESSURE TURBINE WHEEL HAD BROKEN OFF & HAD PENETRATED THE ENGINE CASE & CORE COWL DOORS. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT 2 STUD BOLTS (SADDLE BOLTS) HAD PULLED OUT FROM STRUT BOSSES 2 & 3 IN THE TURBINE MID FRAME (TMF), WHICH PLACED AN ADDITIONAL LOAD ON STRUT BOSSES 1 & 4. EVENTUALLY, THE 1 & 4 SADDLE BOLTS PULLED LOOSE & ALLOWED THE NOZZLE SUPPORT FLANGE TO SHIFT REARWARD. THIS SHIFT ALLOWED THE NOZZLE SEGMENTS TO COME IN CONTACT WITH THE LOW PRESSURE TURBINE & RESULT IN THE FAILURE. THERE WAS INDICATION THAT UNAUTHORIZED REWORK HAD BEEN ACOMPLISHED ON THE SADDLE BOLTS BEFORE OWNER (UNITED AIRLINE) HAD PURCHASED THE AIRPLANE FROM ANOTHER (LAKER) AIRLINE.

Flight

Event TypeIncident
Event Time13:18 CDT
Nearest AirportChicago O'Hare Intl (0nm N)
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftMcdonnell Douglas DC-10-30
Tail NumberN1852U
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageMinor
Operating RulePart 121
Engines3
Engine TypeTurbofan
Engine DetailsGe · CF6-50C2B · Turbofan · 50400
Seats345

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (276 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured276
Total276
Crew 1First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind200° @ 20 kt, gusting 26 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point59
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time17:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data