Los Angeles Int'l Arpt Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Los Angeles, California 90009
Wednesday, May 13, 1992 15:52 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PNEUMATIC DISTRIBUTION SUPPLY DUCT RUPTURED AS THE AIRPLANE BEGAN ITS TAKEOFF ROLL WITH THE FIRST OFFICER AT THE CONTROLS. THE CAPTAIN FELT A SLIGHT CHANGE IN CABIN PRESSURE AND OBSERVED AN ADVISORY MESSAGE ON THE ELECTRONIC INFORMATION CREW ALARM SYSTEM (EICAS) THAT CAUTIONED OF A LEAK IN THE PNEUMATIC DUCT SYSTEM. THE FIRST FLIGHT ATTENDANT ADVISED THE FLIGHT CREW THAT THERE WAS SMOKE, DUST AND HIGH TEMPERATURES IN THE CABIN. THE CAPTAIN ASSUMED CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE, ABORTED THE TAKEOFF AND TURNED OFF THE RUNWAY AT A MIDFIELD TAXIWAY. AFTER THE AIRPLANE EXITED THE RUNWAY THE CAPTAIN DISPATCHED THE FIRST OFFICER TO THE CABIN TO SURVEY THE SITUATION. THE FIRST OFFICER CONFIRMED THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT'S REPORT AND ADVISED THAT THE PASSENGERS WERE COUGHING CONTINUOUSLY. THE CAPTAIN ELECTED TO EVACUATE ALL PERSONNEL VIA THE EMERGENCY EGRESS SLIDES. THE EXAMINATION DISCLOSED THE APU SUPPLY DUCT RUPTURED ALONG THE WELDED SEAM AT FUSELAGE STATION (FS) 1219.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A RUPTURE IN THE AIRPLANE'S AIR CONDITION/HEAT/PRESSURIZATION/APU DUCT, ALONG ITS WELDED SEAM. CONTRIBUTING TO THE INCIDENT WAS THE MANUFACTURERS' FAILURE TO ISSUE A SERVICE BULLETIN APPLICALBE TO ALL APU DUCTS IN THE SYSTEMS.

Event Information

Type of Event Incident
Event Date 5/13/1992
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1552
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City LOS ANGELES
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 90009
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport LOS ANGELES INT'L ARPT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID LAX
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 126
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
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 Day
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 3
Injury Total None 81
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 5023
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 13 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1930
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 47230
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 2:55PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N604UA
NTSB Number LAX92IA209
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 767-222
Aircraft Series Identifier 767-222
Aircraft Serial Number 21865
Certified Max Gross Weight 300000
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 214
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection Aug 28 1991 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 2608
Airframe Hours 30969
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name UNITED AIRLINES
Aircraft Owner Street Address PO BOX 66100
Aircraft Owner City ELK GROVE VILLA
Aircraft Owner State IL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 60666
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name UNITED AIRLINES
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address PO BOX 66100
Operator City ELK GROVE VILLA
Operator State IL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 60666
Operator Code UALA
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code LAX
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1600
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code EWR
Destination City NEWARK
Destination State NJ
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
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 25
Runway Length 1209
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --