Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Atlanta, Georgia 30320
Wednesday, March 21, 1990 19:30 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE CORPORATE JET WAS CRUISING AT FL330 WHEN THE PILOT NOTED THAT THE AILERONS WERE LOCKED. HE FOUND THAT THE AFT LAVATORY WATER SYSTEM HAD LEAKED TWO AND A HALF GALLONS OF POTABLE WATER INTO THE KEEL AREA OF THE FUSELAGE AROUND THE AILERON CABLES AND PULLEYS. THE PILOT SURMISED THAT THE WATER WAS FROZEN AROUND THE CABLES AND DECLARED AN EMERGENCY. THE OUTSIDE AIR TEMPERATURE WAS -50 C. DURING FINAL APPROACH, AILERON CONTROL WAS REGAINED AND A NORMAL LANDING WAS ACCOMPLISHED. EXAMINATION OF THE LAVATORY WATER SYSTEM REVEALED A CRACKED COPPER OUTPUT LINE ON THE WATER HEATER UNIT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE LEAKING AFT LAVATORY WATER HEATER UNIT.

Event Information

Type of Event Incident
Event Date 3/21/1990
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1930
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City ATLANTA
Event State GEORGIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 30320
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 3
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 Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1850 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID ATL
Elevation of weather observation facility 1026
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 25000
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) 25
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 17
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 190
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) 0
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) 5043
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 23 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1400
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 43590
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 4:50PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N802X
NTSB Number FTW90IA086
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91F: Special Flt Ops.
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage None
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BRITISH AEROSPACE
Aircraft Model HS125-800
Aircraft Series Identifier HS125-800
Aircraft Serial Number NA-0418
Certified Max Gross Weight 27400
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 8
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City
Aircraft Owner State
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name EXXON CORPORATION
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 17651 JFK BLVD BOX 60766
Operator City HOUSTON
Operator State TX
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 77205
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
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 Unknown
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Unknown
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Unknown
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Executive/Corporate
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code IAH
Departure City HOUSTON
Departure State TX
Departure Country
Departure Time 1710
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code EWR
Destination City NEWARK
Destination State NJ
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 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --