# NTSB ATL92IA030: Airbus Industrie A-310-200, N803PA, Covington, KY, December 18, 1991

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: December 18, 1991, 16:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place: Covington, KY
- Coordinates: 39.020042, -84.559631 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0200&lon=-84.5596&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 102 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 8, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 8523
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL92IA030
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/8523/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL92IA030

## Probable cause

THE IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF THE THRUST REVERSER STOW SWITCH ASSEMBLY BY COMPANY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL, WHICH RESULTED IN THE ERRONEOUS ILLUMINATION OF THE THRUST REVERSER WARNING LIGHT.

## Sequence of events

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

- Miscellaneous/other, takeoff - roll/run
  - thrust reverser,indicator - unreliable (cause)
  - maintenance,alignment - improper, company maintenance personnel (cause)

## Analysis

THE RIGHT ENGINE THRUST REVERSER WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL. THE FLIGHT CREW ABORTED THE TAKEOFF, AND AN INSPECTION OF THE THRUST REVERSER REVEALED THAT THE REVERSER HAD NOT ENGAGED. EXAMINATION OF THE THRUST REVERSER STOW SWITCH ASSEMBLY REVEALED THAT THE ASSEMBLY HAD BEEN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED, ALLOWING THE ACTIVATION OF THE SWITCH AND ILLUMINATION OF THE WARNING LIGHT WHEN THE REVERSER WAS IN THE STOWED POSITION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N803PA (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Airbus Industrie A-310-200 (A310-200)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 343
- Engines: P&W JT9D-7R4 56000 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Delta Airlines Incorporated
- Registered owner: Wilmington Trust Co.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: AAIP, January 2, 2000
- Destination: JFK, NEW YORK, NY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: CVG, Greater Cincinnati, runway 36, 9,501 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 30,000 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 340° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,300 ft broken
- Temperature: 27 °F, dew point 10 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: CVG, 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 19911218059839I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19911218059839I), Dec 18, 1991: Airbus A310200, Covington - Cin, OH. NR2 engine reverser unlock light illuminated on takeoff. Aborted. Maintenance deactivated the thrust reverser.

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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