- Date
- April 14, 1988, 09:45 local (13:45 UTC)
- Place
- Charleston, WV
- Injuries
- 8 minor, 54 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N110URFokker F28 MK 4000
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 1, 1991
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19880414009269A
- Case key
- 11364
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
Engine and airframe failure were caused by the the separation of the first stage low pressure turbine disk. The disc interstage seal was installed inadequately, resulting in rubbing between the seal and disk, causing failure of the disk. Inadequate procedure by maintenance personnel are a contributing factor.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The acft was at flight level 310, when the no. 2 engine first stage turbine disc separated, causing an uncontained engine failure. Turbine debris penetrated the fuselage structure & caused depressurization. The plt made an emergency descent & landed at Charleston, WV, which was about 50 miles away. The investigation revealed severe rubbing & melting of the low pressure turbine interstage seal & separation of the drive flanges connecting the LP1 & LP2 turbine discs. Rolls-royce repair scheme xrs 3505 describes a procedure for repair of the interstage seals. However, in replacing the seals, the repair facility used machining reference surfaces which differed from those in the repair scheme. Rolls-roycesubsequently amended xrs 3505 to make it more tolerable to rubbing or misassembly of the low pressure turbine seal. All of the first class section & two cabin section passenger oxygen masks failed to deploy.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N110UR
- Reported as
- Fokker F28 MK 4000 (F28 MK 400)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 11182
- Airframe hours
- 14,441
- Engine
- Rolls-Royce 555-15P, 9,850 lbs thrust, turbo fan
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 121
- Registered owner
- Piedmont Aviation
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Transport
- Departed
- CLT · Charlotte, NC
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- CRW · Yeager, runway 5, 6,302 × 150 ft, asphalt
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 45
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 11,009 total · 325 in this make and model · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 190° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 25,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 57 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- CRW, 50 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.