# NTSB ATL90IA136: Douglas DC-9-51, N415EA, Atlanta, GA, June 22, 1990

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: June 21, 1990, 20:00 local (Jun 22, 1990, 00:00 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: 111 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 30, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8160
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL90IA136
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8160/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL90IA136

## Probable cause

INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE WHICH RESULTED IN OPERATION OF THE TIRE WHILE UNDER INFLATED AND ITS SUBSEQUENT FAILURE. A FACTOR IN THE INCIDENT WAS THE INADEQUATE QUALITY CONTROL BY THE TIRE RECAPPING FACILITY WHICH FAILED TO REPAIR A PREVIOUSLY IDENTIFIED TIRE DEFECT.

## 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
  - maintenance,inspection - inadequate, company maintenance personnel (cause)
  - inadequate quality control, other maintenance personnel (contributing factor)

## Analysis

DURING THE TAKE OFF ROLL A BLOW OUT OCCURRED TO THE NO. 4 TIRE. THE AIRPLANE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT & LANDED UNEVENTFULLY. EXAMINATION OF THE TIRE REVEALED DAMAGE TO THE INNER LINER CONSISTENT WITH UNDER INFLATION. THE MAINT PROGRAM FOR THE OPERATOR REQUIRES TIRE PRESSURES TO BE CHECKED WITH A GAUGE DURING LAY OVER SERVICE INSPECTIONS. MAINTENANCE RECORDS INDICATED THE INSPECTION WAS DONE THE PREVIOUS DAY. RECAP RECORDS FOR THE TIRE ALSO REVEALED THAT IT WAS RECAPPED & DELIVERED TO THE OPERATOR WITH A PIN HOLE IN THE LINER WHICH ALLOWED A SLOW LEAK. THE PIN HOLE WAS NOT REPAIRED PRIOR TO DELIVERY TO THE OPERATOR.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N415EA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N415EA-2001-07-03), registration cancelled 2001-07-03, S/N 47749 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DOUGLAS DC-9-51
- Registry model: [Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-51](https://openairdocs.org/model/mcdonnell-douglas-dc-9-51) (registry code 3022051) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 47749
- Engines: P&W JT8D-17 16000 lbs thrust turbo jet
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Eastern Air Lines, Inc.
- Departed: ATL
- Destination: MCI, KANSAS CITY, MO
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: ATL, Atlanta Int'L Airport, runway 27R, 11,889 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 2,517 total, 442 in this make and model, 2,142 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 270° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ATL, 1 nm away

## Other investigations on N415EA (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 ATL80IA093](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL80IA093), Sep 10, 1980: Douglas DC-9 (N415EA), Norfolk, VA, incident, no 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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