# NTSB CHI86IA034: Boeing 747-251F, N619US, Glen Ellyn, IL, November 28, 1985

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: November 28, 1985, 10:45 local (16:45 UTC)
- Place: Glen Ellyn, IL
- Coordinates: 41.860286, -88.059303 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8603&lon=-88.0593&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 13353
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI86IA034
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/13353/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI86IA034

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, climb - to cruise
  - combustion assembly - cracked (cause)
- Fire/explosion, climb - to cruise
  - accessory drive assy - burned (contributing factor)
- Miscellaneous/other, climb - to cruise
  - nacelle/pylon,auxiliary - separation (contributing factor)

## Analysis

DURING CLIMB A BANG WAS HEARD AND THE AIRCRAFT SHUDDERED. THE CREW STATED THAT THE NUMBER THREE ENGINE OIL PRESSURE AND OIL QUANTITY INDICATED LOW. THE FIRE WARNING LIGHT AND BELL ACTIVVATED. THE ENGINE WAS SHUT DOWN AND THE AIRCRAFT LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. POSTFLIGHT INSPECTION REVEALED THE OUTBOARD COWLING OF THE NUMBER THREE ENGINE HAD SEPARATED. THE COWLING WAS FOUND IN A SUBURB TEN MILES SOUTHWEST OF THE AIRPORT. ENGINE TEARDOWN REVEALED A CRACK IN A VENT LINE STRUT IN THE DIFFUSER AREA ALLOWING BLEED AIR TO IGNITE OIL IN THE NUMBER THREE BEARING AREA. PRESSURE FORCED THE FIRE TO VENT THROUGH THE COMPARTMENT BREATHER AIR TUBE DISINTEGRATING THE MAIN BEARING BREATHER TUGE ELBOW. THE FORCE OF THE EXPLOSION AT THE DISINTEGRATING ELBOW BLEW THE OUTBOARD COWLING OFF.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N619US (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 747-251F
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 21321
- Airframe hours: 23296
- Engines: P&W JT9D-3 SER 14500 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Minor damage
- Fire: In-Flight
- Flight: Part 121
- Registered owner: Northwest Airlines
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Departed: ORD, CHICAGO, IL
- Destination: MSP, MINNEAPOLIS, MN
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 8,912 total, 831 in this make and model, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 130° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 39 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: ORD, 9 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 19851128063069I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19851128063069I), Nov 28, 1985: Boeing 747251F, Chicago, IL, Minor damage. Loud bang followed by oil pressure light during climb. Engine shutdown, landed. Nr 3 cowling gone, compressor frozen

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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