# NTSB ATL90IA126: Douglas DC-9-31, N8943E, Atlanta, GA, June 8, 1990

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: June 7, 1990, 22:24 local (Jun 8, 1990, 02:24 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: 96 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 30, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8159
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL90IA126
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8159/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL90IA126

## Probable cause

INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE INSPECTION BY OPERATOR PERSONNEL WHICH RESULTED IN OPERATION OF THE TIRE WHILE UNDER-INFLATED.

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, takeoff
  - landing gear,tire - failure,total
  - maintenance,inspection - inadequate, company maintenance personnel (cause)

## Analysis

AT ROTATION THE FLIGHT CREW NOTED A BANG & A VIBRATION. THE LEFT ENGINE LOST POWER & WAS SHUT DOWN. A SINGLE ENGINE LANDING WAS COMPLETED AT THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE NO. 2 TIRE RUPTURED DURING THE TAKE OFF ROLL. TIRE DEBRIS ENTERED THE ENGINE. THE TIRE HAD BEEN RECAPPED ONCE 7 DAYS PRIOR & INSTALLED ON THE AIRPLANE 2 DAYS PRIOR. THE AIRPLANE HAD RECEIVED TWO DAILY SERVICE INSPECTIONS ON THE DAY PRIOR & THE MORNING OF THE INCIDENT. THE INSPECTION REQUIRES TIRE PRESSURE CHECKS WITH A GAUGE. TWO OTHER RECENT TIRE BLOWOUT INCIDENTS ON TAKE OFF WERE FOUND TO HAVE RESULTED FROM UNDER-INFLATION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8943E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8943E-1998-10-08), registration cancelled 1998-10-08, S/N 47166 (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: 47166
- Engines: P&W JT8D-7B 14000 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Minor damage
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Eastern Air Lines, Inc.
- Destination: TLH, TALLAHASSEE, FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: ATL, William B. Hartsfield, runway 27L, 9,000 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 8,126 total, 3,567 in this make and model, 2,782 as pilot in command, 250 in the last 90 days, 82 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 280° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- 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 19900607027159I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900607027159I), Jun 7, 1990: Doug DC931, Atlanta, GA, Minor damage. Tire blew on takeoff. Engine ingested rubber. Returned. Slide loose during evacuating due to unsecured girt bar.

## Other investigations on N8943E (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 NYC72AN074](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC72AN074), Dec 4, 1971: Douglas DC-9 (N8943E), Raleigh, NC, minor damage, 2 fatal

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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