19970511026849A

On may 11, 1997, about 1934 eastern daylight time, a Mcdonnell Douglas DC-10-30, g-niuk, operated by flying colours airlines inc., as british airways flight 4508 (BA4508), operating as a title 124 CFR part 129, scheduled flight, from San Juan, puerto rico to gadwick, englind, was evacuated via the slides after the no.3 (right) engine caught fire at the San Juan international airport. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an IFR flight plan was filed. The airplane was not damaged. The flightcrew of 3, cabin crew of 11, and 248 passengers were not injured. One passenger was seriously injured during the evacuation. The airplane was taxiing for departure on taxiway "n", when the cabin crew smelled smoke. About the same time, the crew of a commuter flight taxiing behind BA4508, reported that the DC-10'S right engine was on fire. The crew of BA4508 saw smoke out the codkpit window, the captain stopped, and ordered the evacuation of the airplane. At 1939, crash fire rescue equipment was used to put out the fire. Examination of the right engine revealed that the fuel/oil exchanger was leaking fuel. There was no damage to the engine or the airframe. The exchanger is to be replaced, and the airplane will be ferried to tulsa, Oklahoma, for further inspection. (.4) the airplane was taxiing for departure on taxiway 'n', when a smell fuel was detected in the cabin. About the same time, the crew of a commuter flight taxiing behind, the DC-10, reported that the right engine was on fire. The crew saw the smoke from the cockpit window, the captain stopped the airplane, shut the engines down, and order an evacuation. Crash fire rescue equipment was used to put out the fire. Examination of the right engine [no.3] revealed that the fuel/oil heat exchanger (part number 158210-11) had failed as a result of fretting wear between the baffle plate and the retaining slots in the casing, causing a fuel leak. There was no damage to the engine or the airframe. According to a passenger's description of the evacuation there was general panic in the cabin, passengers screamed and pushed to get out. Some passengers had not cleared the bottom of the escape chute, because no one was at the bottom of the chute to help people stand up and move out of the way promptly. After evacuating the airplane passengers were standing around on the tarmac and did not know were to go, because nobody was directing passengers away from the plane. Some passengers were standing near the bottom of the chute, and others were moving away in all possible directions. (-23) on may 11, 1997, approximately at 1930 hours atlantic time, british airways Douglas DC-10-30, registration number gniuk, serial number 46932, operated by flying colors an FAR part 129, under certificate number F7JF748F, flight number BA4508, was taxiing out a Luis Munoz Marin International Airport in San Juan, puerto rico inbound to gadwick, england with 249 passengers and 14 crew members, experienced a number 3 engine fire. Flight crew was unaware of the fire since they didn't have any cockpit indication. Crew was advised of the fire by an American eagle flight crew that were taxiing behind flight 4508, through air traffic control personnel. Airport fire fighting crew extinguished the fire and the aircraft captain ordered an evacuation.