# NTSB CHI89FA183: McDonnell Douglas MD-80, N244AA, Chicago, IL, September 12, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 12, 1989, 17:46 local (22:46 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: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor, 108 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 11, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 14275
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI89FA183
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/14275/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI89FA183

## Probable cause

A LOSS OF HYDRAULIC SYSTEM PRESSURE DUE TO THE OPERATOR'S FAILURE TO REPLACE A SYSTEM COMPONENT THAT HAD A KNOWN HISTORY OF FAILURES, AND THE PILOT'S IMPROPER USE POWERPLANT CONTROLS RESULTING IN A DEGRADATION OF RUDDER EFFECTIVENESS. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THE FAILURE OF THE POWER TRANSFER UNIT SHUTOFF VALVE.

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, descent - normal
  - hydraulic system,shutoff valve - failure,total (contributing factor)
  - material defect, manufacturer (contributing factor)
  - hydraulic system - no pressure (cause)
  - maintenance,replacement - not performed, company maintenance personnel (cause)
- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - powerplant controls - improper use of, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - object - other
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - roll

## Analysis

DURING DESCENT A COMPLETE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM FAILURE OCCURRED. DURING THE LANDING ROLLOUT THE AIRPLANE RAN OFF THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY & COLLIDED WITH A MANHOLE COVER COLLAPSING THE NOSE GEAR. THE POWER TRANSFER UNIT SHUTOFF VALVE, P/N 240695, FAILED; ONE OF THE DUAL VALVE BODY HALVES SEPARATED AT THE MOUNTING PLATE. THE VALVE HAD A KNOWN HISTORY OF FAILURES, AND A KIT VERSION OF A 'FIX' TO THE VALVE HAD BEEN AVAILABLE BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE FLIGHT MANUAL CAUTIONS THAT FOR LANDING WITH NO HYDRAULIC POWER, INCREASING AMOUNTS OF REVERSE THRUST SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCES RUDDER EFFECTIVENESS, AND IN THE EVENT OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL PROBLEMS TO REDUCE REVERSE THRUST AS REQUIRED AND SELECT FORWARD IDLE IF NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN OR REGAIN CONTROL. DFDR READOUT SHOW THE APPLICATION OF THRUST GREATER THAN IDLE REVERSE DURING THE THE LANDING ROLLOUT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N244AA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N244AA-2010-06-14), registration cancelled 2010-06-14, S/N 49256, built 1984 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: McDonnell Douglas MD-80
- Registry model: [Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-82(MD-82)](https://openairdocs.org/model/mcdonnell-douglas-dc-9-82-md-82) (registry code 3022082) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 49256
- Airframe hours: 16332
- Engines: P&W JT8D-217A & C turbo fan
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: American Airlines
- Registered owner: Connecticut National Bank
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, September 11, 1989, 6 hours before
- Departed: ROC, ROCHESTER, NY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: ORD, Chicago O'Hare Intl, runway 9R, 10,141 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 4,600 total, 876 in this make and model, 160 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 10° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 11,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 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 19890912036139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890912036139A), Sep 12, 1989: Doug DC982, Chicago, IL, Substantial damage. Hydraulic system failed. Left runway hit manhole.

## Other investigations on N244AA (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 NYC97LA009](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC97LA009), Oct 29, 1996: McDonnell Douglas MD-80 (N244AA), Jamaica, NY, minor damage. Probable cause: Failure of the nose landing gear upper lock link.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.