Jfk International Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Jamaica, New York 11430
Monday, June 17, 1996 21:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilots stated that at flight level 350, just before their descent to JFK, the No. 2 engine generator warning light and CSD low oil pressure light illuminated. Attempts to disconnect the CSD were unsuccessful, and the No. 2 engine was shut down. Following the shutdown, the No. 2 engine fire warning sounded, and the flightcrew discharged both No. 2 engine fire bottles; however, the fire continued. After declaring an emergency and landing at JFK, firefighters noted that the gearbox was glowing red, and they used extinguishing agent. Examination of the engine and accessory gearbox components revealed that the CSD failed to disconnect, because it had not been overhauled in accordance with the manufacturers overhaul manual.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

failure of the constant speed drive (CSD) to disconnect from the generator. Contributing to the cause was the failure of the FAA approved overhaul facility to follow the manufacturer's overhaul manual.

Event Information

Type of Event Incident
Event Date 6/17/1996
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 2130
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City JAMAICA
Event State NEW YORK
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 11430
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport JFK INTERNATIONAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID JFK
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 13
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 5
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 414
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 5049
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 18 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 745
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:04AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N606FF
NTSB Number IAD96IA098
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 In-flight
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Boeing
Aircraft Model 747-136
Aircraft Series Identifier 747-136
Aircraft Serial Number 20273
Certified Max Gross Weight 734000
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 514
Number of Engines 4
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection May 14 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 205
Airframe Hours 24556
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name TOWER AIR
Aircraft Owner Street Address HANGAR 17, JFK AIRPORT
Aircraft Owner City JAMAICA
Aircraft Owner State NY
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 11430
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 TWRA
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 Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code LAX
Departure City LOS ANGELES
Departure State CA
Departure Country
Departure Time 1644
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code JFK
Destination City
Destination State NY
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 31L
Runway Length 14572
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --