# NTSB ATL84IA246: Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-30, N956VJ, Nashville, TN, August 6, 1984

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: August 6, 1984, 13:05 local (18:05 UTC)
- Place: Nashville, TN
- Coordinates: 36.109764, -86.660156 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1098&lon=-86.6602&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 85 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 6352
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL84IA246
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/6352/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL84IA246

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, climb - to cruise
  - fuel system,nozzle - other (cause)
  - maintenance,installation - improper, other maintenance personnel (cause)
  - combustion assembly - overtemperature (cause)
  - combustion assembly,outer casing - failure,total (cause)
  - nacelle/pylon - separation

## Analysis

DURING THE CLIMB-OUT, A 15% DECREASE IN THE RIGHT ENG EPR WAS NOTED BY THE FLT CREW. THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY A LOUD BANG & FAILURE OF THE #2 ENG. THE #2 ENG WAS SHUT DOWN & THE ACFT WAS FLOWN BACK TO THE DEPARTURE ARPT. AN INITIAL EXAM REVEALED THAT THE RIGHT ENG TOP COWLING HAD SEPARATED & THE LOWER SECTION OF THE COMBUSTION CASE WAS SPLIT. ENG REMOVAL & TEARDOWN REVEALED THE #5 FUEL NOZZLE NUT LOCK RING WAS MIS-ASSEMBLED. THIS DETRACTED FROM THE TORQUE ON THE FUEL NOZZLE NUT & INADEQUATELY COMPRESSED THE #5 FUEL NOZZLE SEAL. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE FUEL NOZZLE LEAKED & ALLOWED LOCAL OVERTEMP OF THE OUTER COMBUSTION CHAMBER CASE AT THE 6 O'CLOCK POSITION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N956VJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N956VJ-2013-06-27), registration cancelled 2013-06-27, S/N 47588, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MCDONNELL DOUGLAS DC-9-30
- Registry model: [Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-31](https://openairdocs.org/model/mcdonnell-douglas-dc-9-31) (registry code 302206A) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney JT8D-9 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-jt8d-9-series) (registry code 52048, turbo-jet) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: P&W JT8D-7B 14000 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Registered owner: Usair
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, June 20, 1984, 91 hours before
- Departed: BNA, NASHVILLE, TN
- Destination: PIT, PITTSBURGH, PA
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, unknown; seat: left

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: BNA

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 19840806042419I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840806042419I), Aug 6, 1984: Doug DC9*, Nashville, TN, Substantial damage. Decrease of epr, loud bang, engine failed. Top cowling absent. Fuel nozzle lockring misassembled.

## Other investigations on N956VJ (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 NYC77FA086](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC77FA086), Aug 21, 1977: Douglas DC-9 (N956VJ), New York, NY, substantial damage

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.

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