# NTSB ATL05LA065: Embraer EMB-135LR, N733KR, Raleigh, NC, March 20, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 20, 2005, 11:48 local (16:48 UTC) - Place: Raleigh, NC - Coordinates: 35.866664, -78.790275 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8667&lon=-78.7903&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 31 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 30, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Greensboro FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 61171 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL05LA065 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61171/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL05LA065 ## Probable cause An oily smell in the airplane shortly after takeoff for undetermined reasons that resulted in a return to the airport and a passenger injury during the emergency evacuation. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, takeoff - initial climb - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Miscellaneous/other, emergency landing - evacuation - initiated, passenger - miscellaneous, passenger ## Analysis According to the captain, shortly after takeoff there was a foul oil smell spreading throughout the cockpit and cabin. The captain declared an emergency and returned to Raleigh Durham International Airport. The flight was cleared for an approach to and an emergency landing on runway 23R. After the airplane stopped on the runway, the captain ordered an emergency evacuation of the airplane. The flight attendant opened the passenger cabin door and the forward galley door and passengers evacuated the airplane. During the evacuation, one passenger received serious injuries. Examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical defects. The engine and auxiliary power unit oil levels were checked and found to be satisfactory and contained no sign of leaks. Maintenance personnel checked several areas for offensive odors and signs of bleed air leaks and found no bleed air leaks or odor of oil in the airplane. ## Factual narrative On March 20, 2005, at 1148 eastern standard time, an Embraer EMB-135LR, N733KR, registered to and operated by American Eagle Airlines, Inc., as Flight 650, and flown by the captain, conducted an emergency evacuation following an emergency landing at the Raleigh Durham International Airport in Raleigh, North Carolina. The flight was operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 121 and instrument flight rules (IFR). Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an IFR Flight Plan was filed. The captain, first officer, flight attendant and 28 passengers were not injured, but one passenger received a serious injury. The fight originated from Raleigh, North Carolina, on March 20, 2005, at about 1130. According to the captain, shortly after takeoff there was a foul oil smell spreading throughout the cockpit and cabin. The captain declared an emergency and returned to Raleigh Durham International Airport. The flight was cleared for an approach to and an emergency landing on runway 23R. After the airplane stopped on the runway, the captain ordered an emergency evacuation of the airplane. The flight attendant opened the passenger cabin door and the forward galley door and passengers evacuated the airplane. During the evacuation, one passenger received serious injuries. Examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical defects. The engine and auxiliary power units oil levels were checked and found to be satisfactory and contained no sign of leaks. Maintenance personnel checked several areas for offensive odors and signs of bleed air leaks and found no bleed air leaks or odor of oil in the airplane. The airplane was returned to service on March 23, 2005. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N733KR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N733KR-2015-02-04), registration cancelled 2015-02-04, S/N 145368, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Embraer EMB-135LR - Registry model: [Embraer EMB-135LR](https://openairdocs.org/model/embraer-emb-135lr) (registry code 3260305) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Allison AE3007C series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-ae3007c-series) (registry code 03028, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 145-368 - Airframe hours: 8870 - Engines: Rolls-Royce AE 3007-A13 7200 horsepower turbo fan; Rolls-Royce AE 3007-A13 7200 horsepower turbo fan - Damage: No damage - Flight: Part 121 - Registered owner: American Eagle Airlines Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, January 1, 2005, 411 hours before - Departed: RDU, Raleigh, NC - Destination: EWR, Newark, NJ - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: RDU, Raleigh-Durham Int'l Airport, runway 23, 10,000 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 1, 2005; seat: left; flight hours: 7,896 total, 1,452 in this make and model, 3,401 as pilot in command - Co-pilot; age 33; injuries: none; seat: right ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: RDU ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20050320005449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050320005449A), Mar 20, 2005: Emb EMB135LR, Raleigh-Durham, NC. (-23) Aircraft departed rdu at approximately 1100 hours (edst). During climb a foul oil smell filled the cockpit and cabin. As the aircraft continued to climb… ## Other investigations on N733KR (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 NYC03LA208](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC03LA208), Sep 27, 2003: Embraer EMB-135 (N733KR), Flushing, NY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The inadequate visual lookout by the driver of a ground vehicle, and by ground support personnel, which resulted in a subsequent collision between the airplane and ground vehicle. A factor related to… 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. --- 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.