# NTSB BFO85IA065: Boeing 727-225, N8856E, Richmond, VA, August 11, 1985

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: August 11, 1985, 11:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place: Richmond, VA
- Coordinates: 37.509918, -77.269851 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.5099&lon=-77.2699&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 78 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11154
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO85IA065
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11154/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO85IA065

## Sequence of events

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

- Fire, cruise - normal
  - fuselage,cabin - smoke
  - miscellaneous - inadvertent, passenger (cause)

## Analysis

THE FLT WAS IN CRUISE AT FL 350 WHEN THE CABIN CREW REPORTED A CABIN FIRE IN THE VICINITY OF SEAT 28A. SHORTLY AFTER, A LOWER AFT BODY OVERHEAT WARNING WAS RECVD. THE FLT DIVERTED TO RICHMOND, VA. DURING DESCENT, THE FLT CREW PERFORMED THE APPROPRIATE CHECKLIST AND THE LOWER AFT BODY CVHT LIGHT WENT OUT ABOUT 3 TO 4 MINS. AFTER IT ILLUMINATED. LATER EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT A PAX HANDBAG THAT WAS ON THE FLOOR AGAINST THE CABIN EXHAUST OUTLET ADJACENT TO SEAT 28A WAS EXTENSIVELY FIRE DAMAGED. THE CARPET UNDER THE HANDBAG WAS UNBURNED EXCEPT FOR A SMALL PORTION LEADING TO THE CABIN AIR EXHAUST OUTLET. LOCALIZED FIRE DAMAGE WAS PRESENT BEHIND AND BELOW THE OUTLET. AMONG THE CONTENTS OF THE HANDBAG WAS A BOTTLE OF HAIRSPRAY, FOUND WITH THE CAP LOOSE. THE LABEL ON THE BOTTLE WARNED THAT THE CONTENTS WERE FLAMMABLE. ROW 28 WAS IN THE SMOKING SECTION FOR THAT FLT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8856E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8856E-2017-06-30), registration cancelled 2017-06-30, S/N 20618, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 727-225
- Registry model: [Boeing 727-225](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-727-225) (registry code 1384077) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney JT8D-9 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-jt8d-9-series) (registry code 52048, turbo-jet) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 20618
- Airframe hours: 39850
- Engines: P&W JT8D-15 15500 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Minor damage
- Fire: In-Flight
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Eastern Airlines, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: AAIP, August 1, 1984
- Departed: EWR, NEWARK, NJ
- Destination: RSW, FORT MYERS, FL
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 12,393 total, 4,483 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: RIC

## 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 19850811077589I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850811077589I), Aug 11, 1985: Boeing 727225, Richmond, VA, Minor damage. Cabin fire caused airliner to make an emergency landing. Hair spray in hand bag of passenger leaked into air duct.

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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