# Accident 19990609041989A: Boeing 747422, Pacific Ocean, June 9, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 9, 1999, 02:45 local time
- Place: Pacific Ocean
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: Air carrier (Part 121)
- Operator: UALA
- Aircraft: N198UA, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N198UA-2014-03-17) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Boeing 747-422 (registry code 1384935, https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-747-422) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney PW4000 series (registry code 52119, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pw4000-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 747422
- Reported engine: PWA PW4056
- People aboard: 324
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 19,127 total, 603 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX99LA212](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA212) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990609041989A

## Narrative

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

(-23) APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES WEST OF NIKET INTERSECTION R471, COPILOT WAS ADVISED BY FLIGHT ATTENDANT OF AN ACCIDENT CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY TO F/A ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ A^PRIVACY^ANSWERED THE SUMMONS FOR MEDICAL ASSISTANCE AND AFTER EVALUATION RECOMMENDED IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION DUE TO SERIOUS FACIAL INJURY. ADVISED DISPATCH AND AGREED TO DIVERT TO HONG KONG. NORMAL APPROACH AND LANDING. WAS MET BY MEDICAL ASSISTANCE AND F/A TAKEN TO HOSPITAL. FLIGHT CONTINUED TO NARITA. (.4)WHILE EN ROUTE FROM SINGAPORE TO NARITA, JAPAN, A FLIGHT ATTENDANT PROCEEDED TO TRANSFER A SERVING CART FROM THE MAIN DECK TO THE UPPER DECK.  AS THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT PUSHED THE CART INTO THE LIFT, THE LIFT BEGAN TO MOVE.  THE LIFT CONTINUED TO RAISE, CATCHING THE EDGE OF THE CART AND LIFTING IT OFF THE GROUND, TRAPPING THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT BETWEEN THE OTHER END OF THE CART AND THE GALLEY COUNTER OPPOSITE THE LIFT.  AS THE CART WAS RAISED OFF THE FLOOR, THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT WAS LIFTED OFF HER FEET AND HER BODY WAS PUSHED ON TOP OF THE GALLEY COUNTER.  THE CART CONTINUED TO RISE, PINNING THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT'S FACE BETWEEN THE CART AND THE BINS ABOVE THE GALLEY CO                                            UNTER. AN INSPECTION OF THE GALLEY LIFT AFTER LANDING REVEALED A PIECE OF CARDBOARD HAD BEEN INSERTED INTO THE INTERLOCK SAFETY SWITCH, DISABLING IT, AND BY DOING SO, THE GALLEY LIFT CAN BE OPERATED WITHOUT CLOSING THE GALLEY LIFT DOOR. THIS CONDITION IS KNOWN TO HAVE BEEN CAUSED, IN OTHER INCIDENTS, BY FOOD SERVICE PERSONNEL TO EXPEDITE LOADING OF FOOD SERVICE ABOARD THE AIRCRAFT.

## 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 LAX99LA212](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA212), Jun 9, 1999: Boeing 747-422 (N198UA), Pacific Ocean (Pacific Ocean), no damage. Probable cause: intentional tampering/altering of a galley lift interlock microswitch by unknown persons.

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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