# Accident 19991127042849A: Boeing 727232, New York, NY, November 27, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 27, 1999, 11:50 local time
- Place: New York, NY
- Airport: La Guardia
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: Air carrier (Part 121)
- Operator: DALA
- Location: 40.7691° N, 73.8693° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7691&lon=-73.8693&mi=10
- Aircraft: N521DA, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N521DA-2010-07-20) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Boeing 727-232 (registry code 1384082, https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-727-232) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney JT8D-1 (registry code 52044, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-jt8d-1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 727232
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC00LA040](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC00LA040) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19991127042849A

## Narrative

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

ON NOVEMER 11, 1999, AT 1300 EST, A DELTA FLIGHT #1749, HAD A TOW BAR SEPARATION DURING PUSH BACK. AS THE A/C WAS INA TRANSITION MODE FROM PUSHING TO PULLING, THE SHEAR PIN ON THE TOW BAR SNAPPED. THE A/C THEN ROLLED FORWARD INTO THE TUG AND CAUSED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE FUSELAGE BEFORE COMING TO REST. THE CREW AND ITS PASSENGERS WERE NOT INJURED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. DURING THE INVESTIGATION, IT WAS NOTED THAT ALL THREE ENGINES WERE RUNNING AT FLIGHT IDLE, AND THAT THE APU WAS INOPERATIVE AT THE TIME. IT WAS ALSO NOTED THAT DELTA HAS A PROVISION IN THEIR A/C OPERATING MANUAL TO START ENGINES 1 AND 3 AT THE GATE IF THE APU IS INOPERATIVE. HOWEVER, ON THE SIDE THE DELTA RAMP SERVICE MANUAL, STATES THAT ENGINES 1 AND 2 ARE TO BE STARTED AT THE GATE IF THE APU IS INOPERATIVE. BOTH MANUALS ARE IN CONSISTENTLY WITH EACH OTHER. IN ADDITION THE ABOVE FINDINGS THE PRELIMINARY EVIDENCE SHOWS THAT STRESS CRACKS IN THE SHEAR PIN HAD EXISTED PRIOR TO THE EVENT.

## 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 NYC00LA040](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC00LA040), Nov 27, 1999: Boeing 727-232 (N521DA), Flushing, NY, substantial damage. Probable cause: was the use of a defective tow bar, due to the lack of an adequate inspection by contract personnel, the airlines lack of an adequate preventative maintenance program for the tow bars, and the lack…

## Other reports on N521DA (3)

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

- [Incident 19911031054119I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19911031054119I), Oct 31, 1991: Boeing 727277 (N521DA), Albany, NY, Minor damage. Drop in oil pressure and quantity in NR2 engine. Shut down. Tubine failure. Oil leak in area of transmitter.
- [Incident 19881227069669I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881227069669I), Dec 27, 1988: Boeing 727232 (N521DA), West Palm Beach, FL. A system hydraulic pressure zero. Unsafe gear door light. Gear extended manually. Door actuator replaced.
- [Incident 19881014063479I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881014063479I), Oct 14, 1988: Boeing 727232 (N521DA), Seattle, WA. Overshot runway on landing rollout. Nosewheel on stopway. Pushed back to taxi. Possible hydroplaning.

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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