# NTSB BFO85IA024: Lockheed L-1011, Patuxent River, MD, March 5, 1985

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · Minor injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: March 4, 1985, 22:48 local (Mar 5, 1985, 03:48 UTC)
- Place: Patuxent River, MD
- Coordinates: 38.279537, -76.419967 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2795&lon=-76.4200&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor, 276 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11148
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO85IA024
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11148/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO85IA024

## Analysis

WHILE ENROUTE FM FT LAUDERDALE, FL TO MONTREAL, CANADA, AIR CANADA FLT 087 REQUESTED TO MAKE AN UNSCHEDULED LNDG DUE TO SMOKE IN THE REAR OF THE ACFT. C-FTNE WAS VECTORED TO PATUXENT RVR NAS, PATUXENT, MD AND DESCENDED OUT OF FL 370. THE SMOKE WAS DETERMINED TO BE ORIGINATING FM A BLACK BOX IN AN OVERHEAD BIN LOCATED ABOVE SEAT #42. ATMPS WERE MADE DRNG THE DSCNT TO IDENTIFY THE BOX AND FIND THE APPROPRIATE CIRCUIT BREAKERS BUT WERE UNSUCCESSFUL DUE TO LACK OF LABEL ON THE BOX AND OTHER DUTIES OF THE CREW DRNG DSCNT. THE ACFT LNDD W/O INCIDENT AT PXT  NAS AT 2306 HOURS EST ON MARCH 4, 1985, AND THE CPT RPTD THAT THE SMOKE STOPPED WHILE TAXIING TO PKG. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE SMOKE ORIGINATED FROM THE EMGCY PWR PACK WHICH CONTROLS THE EMGCY LIGHTING SYSTEM. A CASE TO CASE ELECTRICAL SHORT BETWEEN 2 ADJACENT CELLS IN THE SELF CONTAINED PACK RESULTED IN OVERHEATING. THIS WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE POLYETHYLENE TAPE USED TO HOLD THE 24 CELLS TOGETHER. AN INTERNAL FUSE IN THE BATTERY CHARGING CIRCUIT WAS FOUND POPPED.

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise - normal
  - emergency light(s) - shorted (cause)
  - emergency light(s) - overtemperature (cause)
  - checklist - attempted, flight engineer
  - emergency light(s) - smoke
  - descent - initiated, pilot in command
  - emergency light(s) - unmarked
  - checklist - not identified, flight engineer
- Miscellaneous/other, descent - emergency
  - electrical system,circuit breaker - popped/tripped
  - precautionary landing - performed, pilot in command

## Aircraft

- Registration: CFTNE (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Lockheed L-1011
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1027
- Airframe hours: 28785
- Engines: Rolls-Royce RB 211 42000 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 129
- Registered owner: Air Canada
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Departed: FLL, FORT LAUDERDALE, FL
- Destination: YUL, MONTREAL, OF
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: PXT, Patuxent Nvl Air Station, runway 24, 6,400 × 300 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 18,761 total, 898 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 200° at 13 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: NHK

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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