# NTSB CHI90IA064: Boeing 747-151, N602US, Detroit, MI, January 10, 1990

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: January 10, 1990, 13:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place: Detroit, MI
- Location: 42.3314° N, 83.0458° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Detroit, MI, within about 7 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3314&lon=-83.0458&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 10, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 14562
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI90IA064
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/14562/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI90IA064

## Probable cause

A FIRE IN THE AFT CARGO COMPARTMENT FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS(S).

## Sequence of events

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

- Fire, unknown
  - fuselage,cargo compartment - fire
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)

## Analysis

AIRLINE GROUND PERSONNEL FOUND HEAT/FIRE DAMAGE IN THE AFT CARGO BAY IN THE VICINITY OF THE MID-SHIP DRAIN MAST. IT COULD NOT BE DETERMINED WHEN THE DAMAGE OCCURRED; THERE WAS NO RECORD OF A CREW REPORT OF FIRE/SMOKE DETECTION/WARNING. A FUNCTIONAL CHECK OF THE SYSTEMS INDICATED THAT THEY WERE CAPABLE OF NORMAL OPERATION. THERE WERE NO POPPED CIRCUIT BREAKERS. THE DRAIN MAST AND ASSOCIATED GROUND/AIR RELAY SWITCH WERE TESTED AT THE MANUFACTURER'S FACILITY, AND THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF FAILURE OF THOSE COMPONENTS. PREVIOUS SIMILAR OCCURRENCES HAVE BEEN ATTRIBUTED TO INADEQUATE HOUSEKEEPING. THE AREA AROUND THE DRAIN MAST IS A LOW POINT IN THE FUSELAGE, AND A NATURAL PLACE FOR TRASH/LITTER TO COLLECT. INJURY INDEX PRESUMED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N602US (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 747-151
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 19779
- Engines: P&W JT9D-3A 46960 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Minor damage
- Fire: Unknown
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Northwest Airlines, Inc.
- Registered owner: Unknown
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: unknown, unknown

## Weather

- Conditions: Not reported

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 19900110006629I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900110006629I), Jan 10, 1990: Boeing 747151, Detroit, MI, Substantial damage. During line check found evidence of prior fire in aft cargo. No reports of fire. Detection system operative.

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.