# NTSB ATL88IA146: de Havilland DHC-8-101/102, N804MX, Dothan, AL, April 22, 1988

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: April 22, 1988, 15:35 local (20:35 UTC)
- Place: Dothan, AL
- Coordinates: 31.229207, -85.400306 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.2292&lon=-85.4003&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 24 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 25, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7636
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL88IA146
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7636/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL88IA146

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, cruise - normal
  - 1 engine - failure,total
  - turbine assembly,turbine blade - corroded (cause)
  - turbine assembly,turbine blade - fractured (cause)
- Fire, cruise - normal
  - lubricating system,oil line - fractured (cause)

## Analysis

DURING CRUISE FLIGHT AT 12,000 FT, THE FLIGHT CREW OF THE DHC-8 OBSERVED A LOW OIL PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT. ABOUT FIVE SECONDS LATER, THE RIGHT ENGINE FIRE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. FIRE WAS CONFIRMED AND THE EXTINGUISHER DISCHARGED. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BUT FLARED UP AGAIN, WHEREUPON THE SECOND BOTTLE WAS FIRED. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED AND A LANDING COMPLETED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. INSPECTION REVEALED BROKEN OIL LINES TO THE NUMBER 6 & 7 BEARINGS. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED FAILED LOW PRESSURE TURBINE BLADES DUE TO INTERNAL CORROSION. NEW SOLID BLADES ARE UNDER ENGINEERING EVALUATION ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N804MX (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: de Havilland DHC-8-101/102 (DHC-8-101/)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 019
- Airframe hours: 5574
- Engines: P&W PW120A 2000 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Minor damage
- Fire: In-Flight
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Eastern Metro Express
- Registered owner: Westinghouse Credit Corp.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, April 12, 1988, 79 hours before
- Departed: ATL, ATLANTA, GA
- Destination: VPS, FT.WALTON BEACH, FL
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 29; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 7,300 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: DHN, 35 nm away

## 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 19880422013079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880422013079A), Apr 22, 1988: Dhav DHC8101, Dothan, AL, Minor damage. Right engine fire in flight. Used fire bottles. Shut down and diverted. Turbine blade separation. Oil lines ruptured

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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