# NTSB CHI85IA339: Mcdonnell Douglas DC-10-10, N111AA, Detroit, MI, August 8, 1985

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: August 7, 1985, 20:00 local (Aug 8, 1985, 00:00 UTC)
- Place: Detroit, MI
- Location: 42.3808° N, 83.8945° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from DETROIT METRO WAYNE COUNTY (DTW), within about 9 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3808&lon=-83.8945&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 195 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 12919
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI85IA339
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/12919/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI85IA339

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, climb - to cruise
  - turbine assembly,shaft - failure,total (cause)

## Analysis

ON AUGUST 7,1985 AT 2000 EDT, A MCDONNELL DOUGLAS DC-10-10 N111AA REGISTERED TO AMERICAN AIRLINES, INC., HAD A PIECE OF THE ENGINE EXIT THE ENGINE CASE AND COWLING. ON CLIMB TO CRUISE AT DETROIT AIRPORT, DETROIT, MICHIGAN, WHILE ON A PASSENGER FLIGHT. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME AND AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED MINOR DAMAGE AND THE CREW AND 184 PASSENGERS WERE UNINJURED. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT DETROIT, MICHIGAN ON AUGUST 7,1985 AT 1955 EDT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N111AA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N111AA-1995-11-15), registration cancelled 1995-11-15, S/N 46511 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MCDONNELL DOUGLAS DC-10-10
- Registry model: [Mcdonnell Douglas DC-10-10](https://openairdocs.org/model/mcdonnell-douglas-dc-10-10) (registry code 3022110) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 46511
- Airframe hours: 16031
- Engines: GE CF6-6K 40481 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: AAIP, July 25, 1985, 110 hours before
- Departed: DTW, DETROIT, MI
- Destination: ORD, CHICAGO, IL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: DTW, Detroit

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; airline transport, flight engineer; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 24,000 total, 4,000 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 240° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: DET, 20 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 19850807071059I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850807071059I), Aug 7, 1985: Doug DC1010, Detroit, MI, Minor damage. During climb sheared bolts penetrated engine case and cowling. Turbine aft shaft outer retaining bolts failed.

## Other investigations on N111AA (1)

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.

- [NTSB LAX91IA308](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX91IA308), Jul 13, 1991: Mcdonnell Douglas DC-10-10 (N111AA), Los Angeles, CA, incident, no damage. Probable cause: THE FAILURE OF THE NUMBER 2 ENGINE'S FIRE DETECTION SYSTEM, SYSTRON DONNER FIRE DETECTOR.

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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