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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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May 28, 1983 · Douglas DC-9-31 · N943N

Luke Afb, AZ

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Incident
Date
May 28, 1983
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (86 uninjured)
Location
Luke Afb, AZ
Aircraft
Douglas DC-9-31
Tail Number
N943N
Injuries
None
NTSB Number
LAX83IA257

While descending through 31,600 ft, the master caution and the right 'inlet fuel pressure low' lights illuminated. The fuel quantity transfer circuit breaker was found tripped, and when reset, the fuel quantity gauges went to zero. An emergency was declared to Albuquerque ARTCC and the flight was vectored to Luke AFB. The right engine flamed out at 24,000 ft and restarted at 10,000 ft. The aircraft landed at Luke AFB with both engines operating. After both engines were shut down, the APU continued to operate for about 20 minutes before it shut down due to fuel exhaustion. Four and five-eighths gallons of fuel remained aboard the aircraft. The flight had departed Phoenix for Fresno on 5/27 with 15,000 lbs of fuel. No fuel was added at Fresno because the fuel gauges read 15,000 lbs. With the fuel quantity transfer circuit breaker out, the fuel gauges will stay in the position they were in when power is lost; however, the fuel gauges will not test when the press-to-test button on the instrument panel is depressed. No malfunction of the aircraft's fuel quantity indicating system was found.

Full Narrative

WHILE DESCENDING THROUGH 31,600 FT THE MASTER CAUTION & THE RIGHT 'INLET FUEL PRESSURE LOW' LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE FUELQUANTITY TRANSFER CIRCUIT BREAKER WAS FOUND TRIPPED, & WHEN RESET THE FUEL QUANTITY GAUGES WENT TO ZERO. AN EMERGENCY WAS DECLARED TO ALBUQUERQUE ARTC CENTER & THE FLT WAS VECTORED TO LUKE AFB. THE RIGHT ENG FLAMED OUT AT 24,000 FT & RESTARTED AT 10,000 FT. THE ACFT LANDED AT LUKE AFB WITH BOTH ENGS OPERATING. AFTER BOTH ENGS WERE SHUT DOWN, THE APU CONTINUED TO OPERATE FOR ABOUT 20 MIN BEFORE IT SHUT DOWN DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. 4-5/8 GALS OF FUEL REMAINED ABOARD THEACFT. THE FLT HAD DEPARTED PHOENIX FOR FRESNO ON 5/27 WITH 15,000 LBS OF FUEL. NO FUEL WAS ADDED AT FRESNO BECAUSE THE FUEL GAUGES READ 15,000 LBS. WITH THE FUEL QUANTITY TRANSFER CIRCUIT BREAKER OUT, THE FUEL GAUGES WILL STAY IN THE POSITION THEY WERE IN WHEN POWER IS LOST; HOWEVER, THE FUEL GAUGES WILL NOT TEST WHEN THE PRESS-TO-TEST BUTTON ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IS DEPRESSED. NO MALFUNCTION OF THE ACFT'S FUEL QUANTITY INDICATING SYSTEM WAS FOUND.

Flight

Event TypeIncident
Event Time08:39 MST
Nearest AirportLUKEAFB (72nm W)
Runway3R
Runway Length9910 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftDouglas DC-9-31
Tail NumberN943N
Aircraft CategoryAir
Operating RulePart 121
Engines2
Engine TypeTurbofan
Engine DetailsP&W · JT8D-9 · Turbofan · 14500
Seats102

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (86 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured86
Total86
Crew 1Age 45 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind20° @ 3 kt
Visibility30 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point48
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time16:00
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data