John F Kennedy Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Jamaica, New York 11430
Tuesady, February 20, 1996 7:10 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The aircraft was pushed back from the gate, and both engines were started. The pneumatics were shifted from the auxillary power unit to the engines. Shortly thereafter, smoke was observed in the cockpit and cabin. The flightcrew donned smoke masks, and the captain commanded an emergency evacuation. During evacuation, 2 passengers were seriously injured, and 32 passengers received minor injuries. An investigation revealed that the source of the smoke was a hydraulic check valve failure, which allowed hydraulic fluid into the engine pneumatic duct. Investigation also noted that the 3R door evaucation slide did not deploy. Further investigation determined that the door did not fully open. Although, when manually pushed during the investigation, the door went fully open, and the slide deployed and inflated.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

unsuccessful use of the evacuation slides by passengers during an emergency evacuation of the aircraft. The hydraulic valve failure, subsequent hydraulic leak, and resultant smoke were related factors.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/20/1996
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 710
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City JAMAICA
Event State NEW YORK
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 11430
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport JOHN F KENNEDY
Event Location Nearest Airport ID JFK
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 718 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID JFK
Elevation of weather observation facility 13
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 5000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 4
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 5
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 5
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 120
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Moderate
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 32
Injury Total None 163
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 34
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 558
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Feb 20 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 715
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 9:51AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N11060
NTSB Number NYC96LA063
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 121: Air Carrier
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Minor
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Airbus Industrie
Aircraft Model A-300B4-605R
Aircraft Series Identifier A300B4-605
Aircraft Serial Number 470
Certified Max Gross Weight 377800
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 280
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name AMERICAN AIRLINES
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 619616
Aircraft Owner City DFW AIRPORT
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 75261
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code AALA
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight International
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger/Cargo
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code JFK
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code SDQ
Destination City SANTO DOMINGO
Destination State OF
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Standing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 28 2001 1:03PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --