# Accident 19980216024099A: Airbus A320212, Memphis, TN, February 16, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 16, 1998, 12:40 local time
- Place: Memphis, TN
- Airport: Memphis International
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: Air carrier (Part 121)
- Operator: NWAA
- Location: 35.1495° N, 90.0490° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Memphis, TN, within about 10 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1495&lon=-90.0490&mi=10
- Aircraft: N341NW, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N341NW) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Airbus Industrie A320-212 (registry code 3930322, https://openairdocs.org/model/airbus-industrie-a320-212) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: CFM International CFM56 series (registry code 13802, https://openairdocs.org/engine/cfm-international-cfm56-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIRBUS A320212
- Reported engine: CFMINT CFM565A3
- People aboard: 117
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 5,649 total, 195 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI98IA095](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98IA095) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980216024099A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

FUEL PUMP 7149002 BUSHING FAILED CLOGGING FUEL FILTER. ENGINE AUTO SHUTDOWN. LPT CASE UNCONTAINED BURN THROUGH. (.4)THE EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED A 4-INCH LONG (CIRCUMFERENTIAL) BY 1-INCH WIDE (AXIAL) BURN-THROUGH IN THE LOW PRESSURE TURBINE CASE IN THE PLANE OF THE 2ND STAGE TURBINE STATORS AT THE 11 O'CLOCK LOCATION. THE EXAMINATION OF THE FUEL PUMP FILTER REVEALED THE PRESENCE OF A BRONZE-COLORED MATERIAL.  THE FUEL NOZZLES WERE REPORTED TO HAVE BRONZE-COLORED MATERIAL IN THE NOZZLE JETS.  RECORDS SHOW THAT THE FUEL PUMP HAD OPERATED 17,208 HOURS TIME SINCE NEW AND 6,972 CYCLES SINCE NEW.  THE DISASSEMBLY OF THE PUMP REVEALED THE PUMP HOUSING HAD GEAR POCKET MILLING.  THE FIXED AND DRIVEN BEARINGS, WHICH ARE MADE OF BRONZE, WERE WORN.  THE FUEL PUMP'S FILTER BYPASS VALVE WAS FOUND TO HAVE BRONZE-COLORED PARTICLES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VALVE.  THE FUEL PUMP'S FOUR BEARINGS WERE MADE OF BRONZE AND ALL FOUR BEARINGS EXHIBITED WEAR AND MATERIAL LOSS.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CHI98IA095](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98IA095), Feb 16, 1998: Airbus Industrie A-320-212 (N341NW), Memphis, TN, incident, minor damage. Probable cause: the inadequate (bronze) material used by the fuel pump's manufacturer, which wore and ultimately blocked the fuel filter bypass and partially blocked the fuel nozzles, causing the fuel spray to burn…

## Other reports on N341NW (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19930410014249I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930410014249I), Apr 10, 1993: Airbus A320231 (N341NW), Denver, CO, Minor damage. NR2 engine struck a parked belt loader while being marshalled into gate. Gear chock ingested by engine.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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