# NTSB CHI87MA101: Mcdonnell Douglas DC-10-10, N128AA, Chicago, IL, March 25, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Major investigation · Final report
- Date: March 25, 1987, 08:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place: Chicago, IL
- Location: 41.9769° N, 87.9081° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at CHICAGO O'HARE INTL (ORD), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9769&lon=-87.9081&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 5 minor, 171 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 8, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 13840
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI87MA101
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/13840/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI87MA101

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, takeoff - initial climb
  - auxiliary power unit - failure,total (contributing factor)
  - fluid,oil - leak (contributing factor)
  - maintenance - inadequate, company maintenance personnel (contributing factor)
  - air cond/heating/pressurization - smoke (contributing factor)
  - precautionary landing - performed
- Miscellaneous/other, standing - engine(s) not operating
  - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor)
  - emergency equipment - improper use of (cause)

## Analysis

AFTER ARRIVING AT THE GATE IN CHICAGO, FUMES & SMOKE WERE NOTED IN ZONE C OF THE CABIN, THEN THE CABIN LGTG WENT OUT & THE EMERG LGTG CAME ON. MAINT PSNL FND THE #2 APU HAD AN AUTO-SHUTDOWN DUE TO A MALFUNCTION. THE APU WAS PLACARDED AS INOP & THE ACFT WAS RTRND TO SVC. AS IT WAS CLBG, SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, SMOKE BCM NOTICEABLE & THE CREW ELECTED TO RTRNTO THE ARPT & LND. AFTER LNDG, THE SMOKE HAD DISSIPATED & FIRE DEPT PSNL RPRTD NO INDCN OF SMOKE OR FIRE. SUSPECTING ONLY AN AIR CONDITIONING PROBLEM, THE CREW ELECTED TO CONT TO THE GATE. AS THEY BGN TAXIING, A FLT ATTENDANT RPRTD THE SMOKE WAS INCREASING, SO THE CAPT STOPPED THE ACFT & DIRECTED AN EVACUATION. A X-WIND PREVENTED PROPER DEPLOYMENT OF THESLIDES ON THE RGT SIDE OF THE ACFT. DRG THE EVACUATION, AN ELDERLY PAX, USING SLIDE L-4 ON THE LEFT SIDE, WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED BY OTHERS WHO CAME DOWN THE SLIDE AFTER HIM. ALSO, 5 PAX RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES DRG EVACUATION. AN INV REVEALEDTHE SMOKE WAS CAUSED BY OIL FROM A FAILED APU BEARING WHICH LEAKED INTO THE AIR CONDITIONING SYS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N128AA (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: MCDONNELL DOUGLAS DC-10-10
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 128
- Airframe hours: 29020
- Engines: GE CF6-6K 49000 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: American Airlines
- Registered owner: American Airlines
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Departed: ORD, CHICAGO, IL
- Destination: DFW, DALLAS/FT.WORTH, TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: ORD, O'Hare Intl

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 13,000 total, 302 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,300 ft broken
- Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: ORD

## 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 19870325008829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870325008829A), Mar 25, 1987: Doug DC1010, Chicago, IL. Smoke in cabin at gate. Checked ok by maintenance. On climbout heavy smoke. Returned. APU bearings failed.

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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