- Date
- July 6, 1988, 18:25 local (23:25 UTC)
- Place
- Indianapolis, IN
- Injuries
- 36 uninjured
- Damage
- No damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N409PEBoeing 737-130
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 11, 1990
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19880706071419I
- Case key
- 13998
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the incident.
On this page
Probable cause
Failure to ensure proper alignment and closure of the auxillary power unit lower shroud with the fire seal upon completion of a maintenance action.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
Scheduled air carrier experienced APU fire warning when APU start was attempted during approach descent. Investigation revealed that EGT temperature probe wiring harness was pinched between fire seal and lower APU shroud. Fire seal compromise allowed pooled fuel to enter lower APU area and cause localized fire on delayed ignition.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N409PE
- Reported as
- Boeing 737-130
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 19026
- Engine
- P&W JT8D-17, 14,500 lbs thrust, turbo fan
- Damage
- No damage
- Fire
- In-Flight
- Flight
- Part 121
- Registered owner
- Continental Airlines, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Transport
- Departed
- CLE · Cleveland, OH
- Destination
- IND · Indianapolis, IN
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- Indianapolis Int'L, runway 22R, 10,005 × 150 ft, asphalt
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Certificates
- Flight engineer, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Unknown
- Seat
- Left
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 220° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 88 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- IND, 30 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.