# NTSB CHI90FA278: Boeing 727-251, N278US, Detroit, MI, September 29, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 28, 1990, 18:00 local (Sep 29, 1990, 00:00 UTC)
- Place: Detroit, MI
- Location: 42.2124° N, 83.3534° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at DETROIT METRO WAYNE COUNTY (DTW), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.2124&lon=-83.3534&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious, 2 minor, 128 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 12, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 14555
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI90FA278
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/14555/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI90FA278

## Probable cause

THE INTENTIONAL ACTIVATION OF THE AUXILLARY POWER UNIT BY THE FLIGHT ENGINEER, AND THE IMPROPER EVACUATION PROCEDURES BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND. AN ASSOCIATED FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE APU CIRCUIT BREAKERS WERE NOT PULLED BY COMPANY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL.

## Sequence of events

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

- Fire/explosion, taxi - from landing
  - apu - improper use of, flight engineer (cause)
  - evacuation - improper, pilot in command
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command
  - maintenance,adjustment - improper, company maintenance personnel

## Analysis

FOUR PASSENGERS WERE INJURED DURING THE EMERGENCY EVACUATION FOLLOWING AN APU FIRE.  THE CREW REPORTED THE APU FIRE BELL WHILE TAXIING.  THE CAPT. ELECTED TO EVACUATE, BUT DID NOT INDICATE THE NATURE OF THE PROBLEM TO EITHER THE CABIN ATTENDANTS OR PASSENGERS.  SEVERAL PASSENGERS USED THE OVERWING EXITS ON THE SAME SIDE AS THE FIRE AND WERE INJURED JUMPING OFF THE WING.  ONE SAID THAT THE WING FLAPS WERE NOT LOWERED DURING THE EVACUATION.  THE APU HAD BEEN PLACARDED INOPERATIVE PRIOR TO THE FLIGHT. CREW ADVISED IN WRITING. THE COCKPIT VOICE RECORDER TAPE WAS ERASED IN THE COCKPIT AFTER THE ACCIDENT, SO THE FLIGHT CREW'S ACTIVITIES WERE NOT ABLE TO BE REVIEWED. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE APU REVEALED THAT THE FIRE STARTED BECAUSE OF AN ATTEMPTED START OF THE DEFECTIVE UNIT. PRIOR TO THE FLIGHT, NWA MAINTENANCE ATTEMPTED TO MAKE THE APU INOPERABLE FROM THE COCKPIT BY OPENING CIRCUIT BREAKERS. THE WRONG CIRCUIT BREAKER WAS FULLED, LEAVING THE APU OPERABLE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N278US](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N278US-2011-12-09), registration cancelled 2011-12-09, S/N 21157, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 727-251
- Registry model: [Boeing 727-251](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-727-251) (registry code 138408H) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 2215F
- Airframe hours: 37173
- Engines: P&W JT8D-15A 15500 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Minor damage
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Northwest Airlines, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, September 27, 1990, 6 hours before
- Departed: YUL, MONTREAL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: DTW, Detroit Metropolitan

## 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.; flight hours: 13,500 total, 9,650 in this make and model, 5,000 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 170° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 15,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 61 °F
- 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 19900928065649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900928065649A), Sep 28, 1990: Boeing 727200, Detroit, MI, Minor damage. Fire in APU taxiing to gate. Had prior start problem and placarded. Mechanic failed to disable unit.

## Other investigations on N278US (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 DCA91MA010](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA91MA010), Dec 3, 1990: Boeing 727-251 (N278US), Romulus, MI, substantial damage, 8 fatal. Probable cause: LACK OF PROPER CREW COORDN, INCLUDING VIRTUAL REVERSAL OF ROLES BY THE DC-9 PLTS, WHICH LED TO THEIR FAILURE TO STOP TAXIING & ALERT GND CTLR OF THEIR POSITIONAL UNCERTAINTY IN A TIMELY MANNER BFR &…

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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