Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Miami, Florida 33166
Saturday, April 19, 1997 19:53 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane was in cruise flight when a pronounced airframe vibration started. At the same time, the #2 engine thrust reverser armed light illuminated, but no other lights illuminated. The abnormal procedures check was initiated, the #2 throttle was moved to the idle position, and airspeed was reduced. A precautionary landing was accomplished at the departure airport. Examination of the airplane by company maintenance personnel revealed the right wing fixed trailing edge panel had separated and collided with the fore flap and inboard mid flap.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

disbonding and separation of the right inboard wing fixed trailing edge panel during cruise flight, which resulted in damage to the inboard fore flap and inboard mid flap, and a subsequent precautionary landing at the departure airport.

Event Information

Type of Event Incident
Event Date 4/19/1997
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1953
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City MIAMI
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 33166
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
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 --
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1956 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID MIA
Elevation of weather observation facility 11
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
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 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 5002
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 23 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1720
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:13PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N639FE
NTSB Number MIA97IA147
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 Boeing
Aircraft Model 747-2R7F
Aircraft Series Identifier 747-2R7F
Aircraft Serial Number 21650
Certified Max Gross Weight 301848
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 3
Number of Engines 4
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection AAIP
Date of Last Inspection Apr 11 1997 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 21
Airframe Hours 63503
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WILMINGTON TRUST CO TRUSTEE
Aircraft Owner Street Address RODNEY SQ NO ATTN: CORP TR ADM
Aircraft Owner City WILMINGTON
Aircraft Owner State DE
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 19890
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name ATLAS AIR
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address BLDG 151 JFK INT AIRPORT
Operator City JAMAICA
Operator State NY
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 11430
Operator Code UIEA
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 Cargo
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code MIA
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1923
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code BLG
Destination City BOGOTA
Destination State OF
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 20 2002 12:42PM
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 --