Dummy Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

San Salvador Spain
Saturday, April 27, 2002 3:00 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

On April 27, 2002, about 0300 local (0900 universal coordinated time - UTC), a DC-10-40F, N141WE, operated by Centurion Air Cargo, Inc, on a flight from San Salvador International Airport (MSLP) to La Aurora International Airport (MGGT) sustained substantial damage during acceleration for takeoff. There were no injuries to the flightcrew of three plus two operator employees-mechanics on board. The flight was a 14 CFR 121 cargo flight, and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed and activated. The accident occurred in visual meteorological conditions. The international flight was being conducted under the authority of the Federal Aviation Administration and Autoridad de Aviacion Civil, El Salvador. About the time of rotation, the flightcrew heard a sound described as a thump or bang. After becoming airborne, hydraulic pressure was lost on the nos. 1 and 2 systems. The flightcrew lowered the landing gear and returned to a landing on the takeoff runway. The airplane was brought to a stop and shut down. Examination found extensive damage in the left wing, above the left main landing gear, that included fractured nos. 1 and 2 hydraulic lines, and fractures or damaged mechanical control cables, pulleys, push rods, and electrical wiring. The no. 5 tire was found blown, and tread on the no. 1 tire damaged, both on the left main mount. Marks of a reverser cascade, identified as coming from a B-727, were found impressed into the runway, and a cascade was recovered in a search of the takeoff runway. Pieces of what appeared to be aluminum and other aircraft debris were also found on and near the takeoff runway. The investigation is being conducted by the Autoridad de Aviacion Civil (AAC), El Salvador. Two investigators from the NTSB's Office of Aviation Safety (serving as the U.S. Accredited Representative and an investigator from the Aviation Engineering Division) flew to the site to assist the investigator-in-charge (IIC), AAC. An investigator from the FAA's Major Accident Investigation Division (AAI-100) also flew to the site to assist the IIC. The operator was granted party status by the IIC and is assisting in the investigation. For further information, contact: Sr. Carlos Lopes Director of Aviation Safety and Investigator-in-Charge AAC San Salvador, El Salvador 503 296-66351 / fax -6349 U.S. Accredited Representative: Thomas R. Conroy Air Safety Investigator NTSB Office of Aviation Safety Regional Operations and General Aviation Division, AS-20 Washington, DC 20594 1 202-314-6314

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/27/2002
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 300
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City San Salvador
Event State --
Event Country SPAIN
Zipcode of the event site --
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport Dummy
Event Location Nearest Airport ID MSLP
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport --
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID MSLP
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions --
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 21
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.86
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 5
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency Foreign
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) --
NTSB Notification Source Centurion Air Cargo
NTSB Notification Date Apr 30 2002 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 930
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record May 10 2002 8:30AM
User who most recently changed record JOND
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office AAI-100, Washington, DC

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N141WE
NTSB Number WAS02RA037
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 121: Air Carrier
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire --
Aircraft Explosion --
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name McDonnell Douglas
Aircraft Model DC-10-40F
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number --
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft --
Number of Engines --
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed --
ELT Activated --
ELT Aided Location of Event Site --
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 --
Operator Same as Owner? --
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? --
Operator Street Address 1880 NW 89th Place
Operator City Miami
Operator State FL
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 33172
Operator Code CLCA
Owner has at least one certificate --
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight International
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Cargo
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) --
Second Pilot on Board --
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code MSLP
Departure City San Salvador
Departure State --
Departure Country ES
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code MGGT
Destination City GUATEMALA CITY
Destination State --
Destination Country GT
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - roll/run
Report sent to ICAO? Yes
Evacuation occurred Yes
Date of most recent change to record May 10 2002 8:30AM
User who most recently changed record JOND
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --