# NTSB ATL90IA076: Douglas DC-9-31, N8951E, Atlanta, GA, March 14, 1990

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: March 13, 1990, 22:50 local (Mar 14, 1990, 03:50 UTC)
- Place: Atlanta, GA
- Location: 33.6367° N, 84.4279° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at HARTSFIELD/JACKSON ATLANTA INTL (ATL), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6367&lon=-84.4279&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 59 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 30, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8155
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL90IA076
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8155/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL90IA076

## Probable cause

INADEQUATE SERVICING OF THE AIRPLANE BY OPERATOR MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL WHICH RESULTED IN THE BURST TIRE. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM LINES WHICH WERE FRACTURED BY DEBRIS FROM THE BURST TIRE AND A TOTAL FAILURE OF THE AIRPLANE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM.

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, takeoff - roll/run
  - landing gear,tire - burst (cause)
  - maintenance,service of aircraft/equipment - inadequate, company maintenance personnel (cause)
  - hydraulic system,line - fractured (contributing factor)
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, climb - to cruise
  - hydraulic system - failure,total (contributing factor)

## Analysis

DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL THE RIGHT GEAR INBOARD TIRE BLEW OUT. BOTH RIGHT TIRES WERE DESTROYED BY TAKE OFF ROLL FORCES. CLIMBING THROUGH 19000 FEET THE RIGHT HYDRAULIC SYSTEM INDICATED ZERO PRESSURE & QUANTITY. DURING THE APPROACH TO LANDING THE LEFT HYDRAULIC SYSTEM DEPLETED. AFTER LANDING THE LEFT BRAKES LOCKED SINCE ANTI SKID WAS INOPERATIVE. INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO PRIOR DAMAGE TO THE TIRE WAS RECORDED. OPERATOR'S DAILY SERVICE INSPECTION REQUIRES THAT TIRE PRESSURE BE CHECKED WITH A TIRE GAUGE. TWO ADDITIONAL BLOWN TIRES OCCURRED DURING TAKE OFF FROM THE SAME OPERATOR'S STATION WITHIN 3 MONTHS. EVIDENCE OF TIRE UNDER INFLATION WAS DISCOVERED AFTER THE THIRD INCIDENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8951E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8951E-1994-05-27), registration cancelled 1994-05-27, S/N 47187 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DOUGLAS DC-9-31
- Registry model: [Douglas DC-9-31](https://openairdocs.org/model/douglas-dc-9-31) (registry code 3022065) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 47187
- Engines: P&W JT8D-7B 14000 lbs thrust turbo jet
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Eastern Air Lines, Inc
- Registered owner: First Fidelity Bank Of N.J
- Departed: ATL
- Destination: TLH, TALAHASSEE, FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: ATL, William B. Hartsfield, runway 27R, 11,889 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: unknown, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 13,594 total, 8,173 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright
- Wind: 150° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 11 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Observed at: ATL, 1 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).

- [Incident 19900313008739I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900313008739I), Mar 13, 1990: Doug DC931, Atlanta, GA, Minor damage. Hydraulic pressure lost on climb. Returned. Veered off runway on rollout. Evacuated on runway.

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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