Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Madison, Florida 32340
Thursday, January 4, 1990 9:10 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE CREW OF THE AIRLINE FLIGHT HEARD A BANG AND NOTED THE LOSS OF NO 3 ENGINE POWER, IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT FL350, DECLARED AN EMERGENCY, DIVERTED AND LANDED. AFTER LANDING THE NO 3 ENGINE WAS FOUND TO BE MISSING FROM THE AIRPLANE. THE ENGINE WAS FOUND. EXAMINED AND EXHIBITED SOFT BODY FOD DAMAGE TO THE COMPRESSOR BLADES. THE FORWARD LAVATORY EXTERNAL SEAL WAS MISSING THE SAFETY BUTTON AND THE INTERNAL SEAL WAS IMPROPERLY INSTALLED ALLOWING FOR LEAKAGE WHEN THE AIRPLANE WAS PRESSURIZED. THE FUSELAGE EXTERNAL SKIN AFT OF THE FORWARD LAVATORY SERVICE PANEL WAS STAINED WITH BLUE FLUID.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE FAILURE OF COMPANY SERVICE PERSONNEL TO PROPERLY SERVICE THE AIRPLANE FORWARD LAVATORY.

Event Information

Type of Event Incident
Event Date 1/4/1990
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 910
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City MADISON
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 32340
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 1
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 855 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 190
Weather Observation Facility ID TPA
Elevation of weather observation facility 14
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 105
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4000
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) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 150
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
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 145
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 5003
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jan 4 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1015
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 40721
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 4:44PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2280
NTSB Number MIA90IA047
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 727-251
Aircraft Series Identifier 727-251
Aircraft Serial Number 21159
Certified Max Gross Weight 196000
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 145
Number of Engines 3
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection Dec 16 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 166
Airframe Hours 34169
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name INVESTORS HOLDING CORP.
Aircraft Owner Street Address EXCHANGE PLACE
Aircraft Owner City BOSTON
Aircraft Owner State MA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 02110
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name NORTHWEST AIRLINES
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address MINNEAPOLIS AIRPORT
Operator City ST. PAUL
Operator State MN
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 55111
Operator Code NWAA
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 MIA
Departure City MIAMI
Departure State FL
Departure Country
Departure Time 815
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code MSP
Destination City MINNEAPOLIS
Destination State MS
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 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --