# NTSB CHI87FA081: Boeing 747-122, N4718U, Detroit, MI, February 12, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 11, 1987, 23:17 local (Feb 12, 1987, 04:17 UTC)
- Place: Detroit, MI
- Coordinates: 42.220287, -83.350776 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.2203&lon=-83.3508&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 3 serious, 16 minor, 222 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 13, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 13631
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI87FA081
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/13631/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI87FA081

## Sequence of events

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

- Miscellaneous/other, standing - engine(s) not operating
  - unsafe/hazardous condition warning - intentional, other person (cause)
  - precautionary landing - performed
  - emergency procedure - initiated
  - light condition - dark night
  - misc eqpt/furnishings,slides - disconnected (cause)
  - emergency equipment - improper use of, flight attendant (cause)
  - acft/equip,inadequate control shape/size, manufacturer (contributing factor)

## Analysis

DRG FLT, UNITED FLT 108 RECD INFO OF A BOMB THREAT. DUE TO A SHORT TIME LIMIT, SPECIFIED IN THE THREAT, THE FLT DIVERTEDTO DETROIT & THE SLIDES WERE USED TO EVACUATE THE ACFT; 8 OF 10 SLIDES DEPLOYED NMLY & WERE USED. THE SLIDE AT DOOR 4R DIDN'T INFLATE & WASN'T USED. THE FLT ATTENDANT (F/A) AT DOOR 5R PERCEIVED THAT THE SLIDE (SLIDE/RAFT) AT THAT LCTN WAS INFLATING SLOWLY. SHE PULLED WHAT SHE THOUGHT WAS THE MANUAL INFLATION HANDLE (MIH) & HEARD A HISSING SOUND. SHE THEN SENT 2 HELPERS (PAX) DWN THE SLIDE. AS THEY EGRESSED, THE SLIDE SEPD FM THE ACFT & FELL TO THE GND; 1 OF THE 2 RECD A SERIOUS BACK INJURY. AS OTR SLIDES WERE USED, 2 OTR PAX RECD SERIOUS LEG INJURIES & 16 PAX RECD MINOR INJURIES. AN INV REVEALED THE F/A AT DOOR 5R INADVERTENTLY PULLED THE RELEASE HANDLE (RH) WHEN SHE ATMTD TO USE THE MIH. BOTH HANDLES WERE MADE OF CANVAS MTRL & WERE ABOUT THE SAME SIZE. THE MIH WAS RED WITH A PIECE OF WHITE MTRL MARKED 'PULL' IN RED LTRS; THE RH WAS WHITE & WAS ALSO MARKED 'PULL' IN RED LTRS. NO REASON WAS FND FOR THE SLIDE AT DOOR 4R NOT TO ENFLATE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4718U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4718U-1998-02-17), registration cancelled 1998-02-17, S/N 19879 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 747-122
- Registry model: [Boeing 747-122](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-747-122) (registry code 1384872) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 19879
- Airframe hours: 52055
- Engines: P&W JT9D 46250 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: United Airlines
- Registered owner: United Airlines
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: ORD, CHICAGO, IL
- Destination: EWR, NEWARK, NJ
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: DTW, Detroit Metro Wayne Co, runway 3R, 10,000 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 14,997 total, 7,043 in this make and model, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 80° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: DTW

## 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 19870211003519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870211003519A), Feb 11, 1987: Boeing 747122, Detroit, MI. Bomb threat caused non scheduled landing and evacuation. Some slides failed, one detached by error. Several injured

## Other investigations on N4718U (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 LAX86MA275](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX86MA275), Jun 24, 1986: Boeing 747-122 (N4718U), Pacific Ocean (Pacific Ocean), incident, no damage

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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