# NTSB BFO87FA053: Boeing 747-200B, Washington, DC, August 11, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 11, 1987, 12:25 local (16:25 UTC)
- Place: Washington, DC
- Location: 38.9475° N, 77.4599° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at WASHINGTON DULLES INTL (IAD), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9475&lon=-77.4599&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 334 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 22, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11289
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO87FA053
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11289/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO87FA053

## Sequence of events

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

- Miscellaneous/other, standing - engine(s) not operating
  - crew/group coordination - not performed, ground personnel (cause)
  - aircraft/equipment inadequate, company/operator management (contributing factor)
  - inadequate surveillance,insufficient staff, company/operator mgmt (contributing factor)

## Analysis

A FLIGHT ATTENDANT FELL FROM THE ACFT DURING OPENING OF THE L5 DOOR. THE F/A WAS HELPING A COMPANY GROUND PERSON, WHO WAS OUTSIDE ON THE BOARDING STEP. THE BOARDING STEP WAS NOT AGAINST THE ACFT BUT ABOUT 1 FT AWAY FROM IT. WHEN THE DOOR WAS OPENED, THE F/A FELL THRU THE OPEN DOORWAY AND TO THE GROUND ABOUT 20 FT BELOW. THE COMPANY PROCEDURE REQUIRES HAND SIGNAL COMMUNICATION BETWEEN PERSONNEL INSIDE AND OUTSIDE DURING DOOR OPENING. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT RADIO COMMUNICATIONS WERE BEING USED BETWEEN THE GROUND PERSONNEL AND A COMPANY REP. THE GROUND PERSON COULD NOT ACTIVATE THE DOOR AND REQUESTED THE COMPANY REP TO OPEN IT. THE DOOR STILL WOULD NOT OPEN. THE COMPANY REP REQUESTED HELP FROM THE NEARBY FLIGHT ATTENDANT. THE BOARDING STEPS WERE INITIALLY FULLY AGAINST THE AIRCRAFT BUT WERE PULLED AWAY WHEN THE DOOR WOULD NOT CLEAR THE HANDRAILS OF THE BOARDING STEP. THE AIRFRAME HAS A CURVATURE AT THE L5 DOOR LOCATION. THE BOARDING STEP IS SQUARE SHAPED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: JA182 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 747-200B
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 23813
- Airframe hours: 195
- Engines: GE CF6-50E2 20500 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 129
- Operator: All Nippon Airways
- Registered owner: All Nippon Airways Co. Ltd
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Unknown, August 6, 1987, 77 hours before
- Destination: TOKYO,JAPAN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: IAD, Dulles Intl.

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: unknown, unknown; seat: left; flight hours: 12,065 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 50° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: DUL

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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