# NTSB CHI06LA161: Boeing 737-300, N403TZ, New York, NY, June 8, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 8, 2006, 17:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: New York, NY - Coordinates: 40.777221, -73.872497 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7772&lon=-73.8725&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 143 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 29, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 63953 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI06LA161 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63953/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI06LA161 ## Probable cause The foreign object damage to the horizontal stabilizer during taxi as a result of improper airport maintenance by contract maintenance personnel. The aluminum plate was a factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, taxi - to takeoff - other airport/runway maintenance - improper, other maintenance personnel (cause) - horizontal stabilizer - foreign object damage (cause) - object - other (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane was damaged when a piece of aluminum diamond plate material that was left on the taxiway during taxiway maintenance became airborne and struck the tail of the airplane while it was taxiing for takeoff. Examination by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) revealed that the plate had been left on the taxiway by workers for a company performing maintenance on the taxiway. The plate was used to cover the area on the taxiway that was receiving maintenance. According to the FAA representative, the plate was an aluminum diamond plate material, not steel, and was supposed to have been a thicker and hence heavier steel plate to prevent it from being affected by the jet blast from taxiing airplanes. Guidance to the construction company regarding the use of such plates was provided by the FAA and the airport authority. ## Factual narrative On June 8, 2006, about 1700 eastern daylight time, a Boeing 737-300, N403TZ, operated by American Trans Air, Inc., and piloted by an airline transport pilot, sustained substantial damage when a foreign object struck the tail of the airplane during taxi for takeoff at the LaGuardia Airport, New York, New York . The 14 CFR Part 121 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions and was on an instrument flight rules flight plan. There were no injuries to the 5 crewmembers or 138 passengers on board the airplane. The flight was originating at the time of the accident and the intended destination was the Chicago Midway International Airport, Chicago, Illinois. According to a report from the airplane's operator, a piece of steel plate measuring about 25 inches by 60 inches struck the right horizontal stabilizer of the airplane while it was taxiing for takeoff on taxiway B. Investigation revealed that the plate had been left on the taxiway by workers for a company performing maintenance on the taxiway. The plate was used to cover the area on the taxiway that was receiving maintenance. According to the FAA representative, the plate was an aluminum diamond plate material, not steel. The plate was supposed to have been a thicker and hence heavier steel plate to prevent it from being affected by the jet blast from taxiing airplanes. Guidance to the construction company regarding the use of such plates was provided by the FAA and the airport authority. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N403TZ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N403TZ-2007-11-16), registration cancelled 2007-11-16, S/N 24664, built 1990 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Boeing 737-300 - Registry model: [Boeing 737-322](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-737-322) (registry code 138447Y) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [GE CFM56 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/ge-cfm56-series) (registry code 30016, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24664 - Airframe hours: 41717 - Engines: General Electric CFM56-3C1A 20000 lbs thrust turbo fan; General Electric CFM56-3C1A 20000 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 121 - Registered owner: American Trans Air Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, March 1, 2006, 514 hours before - Departed: LGA, New York, NY - Destination: MDW, CHICAGO, IL - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: LGA, La Guardia ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 1, 2005; seat: left; flight hours: 13,948 total, 5,465 as pilot in command, 159 in the last 90 days, 57 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 36; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 1, 2005; seat: right; flight hours: 8,438 total, 3,356 as pilot in command, 162 in the last 90 days, 53 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 36; last flight review December 1, 2005 ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 0 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft broken - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.76 inHg - Observed at: LGA ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20060608028149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060608028149A), Jun 8, 2006: Boeing 737322, New York, NY, Substantial damage. (-23) Work was being accomplished on the taxiway the night before the incident. Work area was covered with a lightweight metal plate during the daytime airport… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.