# Accident 20060116030699A: Boeing 737524, El Paso, TX, January 16, 2006

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 16, 2006, 09:06 local time
- Place: El Paso, TX
- Airport: El Paso International
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Engine Run-Up
- Operating rules: Air carrier (Part 121)
- Operator: CALA
- Location: 31.8000° N, 106.3833° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.8000&lon=-106.3833&mi=10
- Aircraft: N32626, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N32626-2014-05-28) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Boeing 737-524 (registry code 1384721, https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-737-524) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: CFM International CFM56 series (registry code 13802, https://openairdocs.org/engine/cfm-international-cfm56-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 737524
- Reported engine: GE CFM563B1
- People aboard: 119
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 23,650 total, 7,650 in this make and model, 250 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB DFW06FA056](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW06FA056) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060116030699A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON JANUARY 16, 2006, CONTINENTAL AIRLINES FLIGHT 1515, A BOEING 737-524 AIRPLANE, N32626 WAS PREPARING FOR DEPARTURE FROM EL PASO, INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (ELP) WHEN A MECHANIC WAS FATALLY INJURED WHILE PERFORMING MAINTENANCE. DURING THE PRE-DEPARTURE WALK AROUND INSPECTION THE FIRST OFFICER NOTICED A PUDDLE OF FLUID UNDER THE NUMBER 2 ENGINE. THE FIRST OFFICER BROUGHT THIS TO THE CAPTAIN'S ATTENTION. AFTER HE INSPECTED THE NUMBER 2 ENGINE THE CAPTAIN NOTIFIED ELP STATION OPERATIONS THAT HE WANTED A MAINTENANCE CHECK OF THE NUMBER 2 ENGINE. ELP STATION OPERATIONS CALLED CALA MAINTENANCE CONTROL AT 0845 TO ADVISE THEM OF THE SITUATION. MAINTENANCE CONTROL TOLD HIM TO CONTACT JULIE AIRCRAFT SERVICES (CONTRACT MAINTENANCE PROVIDER) AND HAVE THEM INVESTIGATE THE PILOT REPORT. JULIE'S SENT THREE MECHANICS TO INVESTIGATE. UPON THEIR ARRIVAL AT THE AIRCRAFT, PASSENGERS AND BAGS WERE IN THE PROCESS OF BEING LOADED. THEY PROCEEDED TO THE NUMBER 2 ENGINE, OPENED THE COWLING AND INSPECTED THE ENGINE FOR LEAKS. THEY FOUND RESIDUAL OIL IN THE COWLING AND DETERMINED AN ENGINE RUN WOULD BE REQUIRED. THE MECHANICS MADE A REQUEST FOR THE FLIGHT CREW TO RUN THE NUMBER 2 ENGINES TO DETERMINE THE SOURCE OF THE LEAK. TWO OF THE MECHANICS POSITIONED THEMSELVES ON THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE OF THE ENGINE UNDER THE COWLING IN A KNEELING/SITTING POSITION TO OBSERVE FIRST HAND WHERE THE SUSPECTED LEAK WAS ORIGINATING. THE THIRD MECHANIC WAS POSITIONED APPROXIMATELY 5 TO 7 FT IN FRONT AND TO THE RIGHT OF THE ENGINE (OUTBOARD). AFTER THE ENGINE WAS STARTED AND STABILIZED AT IDLE FOR APPROXIMATELY 2-3 MINUTES, ONE OF THE MECHANICS REQUESTED THE CREW TO ADVANCE THROTTLES TO 70% N-1 FOR 3 MINUTES. APPROXIMATELY 1&1/2 TO 2 MINUTES INTO THIS RUN THE FLIGHT CREW NOTICED A LOUD BANG FOLLOWED BY ENGINE DECELERATION/COMPRESSOR STALLS. THE CAPTAIN RETARDED THE THROTTLES BACK TO IDLE. THE FIRST OFFICER STATED THAT SOMETHING WENT INTO THE ENGINE AND IMMEDIATELY SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE. THE MECHANIC ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ENGINE HAD STOOD UP FROM HIS KNEELING/SITTING POSITION AND STEPPED INTO THE INLET HAZARD ZONE AND WAS INGESTED INTO THE ENGINE RESULTING IN HIS FATALITY.

## 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 DFW06FA056](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW06FA056), Jan 16, 2006: Boeing 737-524 (N32626), El Paso, TX, minor damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: the mechanic's failure to maintain proper clearance with the engine intake during a jet engine run, and the failure of contract maintenance personnel to follow written procedures and directives…

## Other reports on N32626 (1)

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

- [Incident 20070716825439I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070716825439I), Jul 16, 2007: Boeing 737524 (N32626), Chicago, IL, Minor damage. (-23) On Monday July 16, 2007 the ord-fsdo received a phone message from Midway international airport operations that a Continental airlines 737, flight #1196…

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.