# NTSB ATL86IA051: Airbus Industrie A-300 B4-203, N231, Atlanta, GA, December 30, 1985

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: December 30, 1985, 17:06 local (22:06 UTC)
- Place: Atlanta, GA
- Location: 33.7490° N, 84.3880° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Atlanta, GA, within about 7 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7490&lon=-84.3880&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 169 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7010
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL86IA051
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7010/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL86IA051

## 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, takeoff - initial climb
  - turbine assembly - separation (cause)
  - maintenance,design change - not issued, manufacturer (cause)

## Analysis

DURING TAKEOFF INITIAL CLIMB THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED AN UNCONTAINED FAILURE OF THE NO 1 ENGINE. THE PILOT RETURNED TO THE AIRPORT AND LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. POST INCIDENT EXAMINATION DISCLOSED FOUR BROKEN TURBINE MID FRAME STRUT STUDS. THE FRACTURE SURFACES EXHIBITED FATIGUE SIGNATURES. A PROPOSED STRUD STUD DESIGN IS BEING MANUFACTURED FOR TESTING.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N231 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Airbus Industrie A-300 B4-203 (A-300B4-20)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 220
- Airframe hours: 6493
- Engines: GE CF6-50C2 51400 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Registered owner: Eastern Airlines, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, November 13, 1985, 243 hours before
- Departed: ATL, ATLANTA, GA
- Destination: SFO, SAN FRANCISCO, CA
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 14,973 total, 2,226 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 200° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 9 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ATL

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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