# NTSB ATL90IA154: Dassault DA20F, N457F, Chamblee, GA, August 3, 1990

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: August 3, 1990, 12:58 local (16:58 UTC)
- Place: Chamblee, GA
- Coordinates: 33.90015, -84.299018 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9001&lon=-84.2990&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 6, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8161
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL90IA154
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8161/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL90IA154

## Probable cause

THE RIGHT FUEL CONTROL UNIT MALFUNCTIONED AND ALLOWED THE ENGINE SPEED TO DECREASE BELOW IDLE SPEED (45%) WHICH RESULTED IN AN ENGINE FIRE. FACTORS IN THE INCIDENT WERE: THE IMPROPER RIGGING OF THE FUEL CONTROL UNIT DURING INSTALLATION, AND THE FLIGHT CREW'S FAILURE TO MONITOR THE IDLE SPEED BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO DEPLOY THE RIGHT THRUST REVERSER.

## 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, taxi - from landing
  - 1 engine
  - fuel system,fuel control - other (cause)
  - maintenance,adjustment - improper, other maintenance personnel (contributing factor)
- Fire, taxi - from landing
  - turbine assembly,aft fan - fire
  - monitoring - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - engine instrument - not used, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

DURING LANDING THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO DEPLOY THE RIGHT THRUST REVERSER. AFTER CLEARING THE RUNWAY, HE AGAIN ATTEMPTED TO DEPLOY THE REVERSER SEVERAL TIMES. ON THE LAST ATTEMPT, THE ENGINE ACCESSORIES FELL OFF LINE, AND A FIRE WAS REPORTED IN THE TAILPIPE. THE PILOT DID NOT RECEIVE A WARNING IN THE COCKPIT, BUT WAS INFORMED BY THE TOWER. THE FIRE CONTINUED TO BURN UNTIL IT WAS SUPPRESSED BY CFR PERSONNEL. THE ENGINE EXAMINATION DISCLOSED THAT THE FUEL CONTROL UNIT WAS SET BELOW THE PRESCRIBED ENGINE SPEED. ADDITIONALLY, NO.3 AND NO.5 CARBON SEALS SHOWED EVIDENCE OF ENGINE OIL BYPASS. THE RIGHT ENGINE OIL RESERVOIR WAS EMPTY, AND THE FIRE WAS CONFINED TO THE 6 O'CLOCK POSITION OF THE ENGINE. THE FUEL CONTROL WAS INSTALLED PRIOR TO THE FLIGHT DEPARTING LITTLE ROCK. APPARENTLY, DURING THE RIGGING PROCESS THE IDLE SPEED WAS SET TOO LOW, AND WHEN THE PILOT CYCLED THE THRUST REVERSER SEVERAL TIMES A PRESSURE DIFFERENCE EXISTED OVER THE CARBON SEALS WHICH ALLOWED ENGINE OIL TO PASS INTO THE TAILPIPE AREA.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N457F (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: DASSAULT DA20F
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 449
- Airframe hours: 3421
- Engines: GE CF700-2D2 4500 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Minor damage
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Operator: Southern Company Services,Inc.
- Last inspection: AAIP, March 21, 1990, 241 hours before
- Departed: LIT, LITTLE ROCK, AK
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: PDK, Peachtree-Deklab, runway 20L, 6,000 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 12,775 total, 1,759 in this make and model, 12,070 as pilot in command, 75 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 280° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 12,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observed at: PDK

## 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 19900803040599I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900803040599I), Aug 3, 1990: Amd FALCONF, Atlanta, GA, Minor damage. Right thrust reverser failed to deploy on rollout. Extinguished fire in tail pipe area.

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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