# NTSB CHI91IA041: Boeing 727-257, N715RC, Detroit, MI, December 5, 1990

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: December 5, 1990, 05:15 local (10:15 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: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 76 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 30, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 14923
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI91IA041
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/14923/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI91IA041

## Probable cause

THE INADEQUATE DEICING PROCEDURES INSTITUTED BY COMPANY MANAGEMENT.

## Sequence of events

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

- Miscellaneous/other, standing - pre-flight
- Fire, taxi - from landing
  - apu - selected
  - procedure inadequate, company/operator management (cause)

## Analysis

THE INCIDENT AIRPLANE EXPERIENCED AN APU FIRE SHORTLY AFTER LANDING WHEN THE APU WAS STARTED. THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN DEICED AT ITS POINT OF DEPARTURE WITH A GLYCOL AND WATER MIX. COMPANY POLICY CALLED FOR THE FLIGHT CREW TO SHUT OFF THE APU DURING DEICING. THE APU EXHAUST OUTLET IS ON TOP OF THE RIGHT WING NEAR THE FUSELAGE, AND WILL ACCEPT DEICE FLUID INTO THE EXHAUST AND SUBSEQUENTLY THE APU COMBUSTION CHAMBER IF DEICING FLUID IS DIRECTED INTO THE OPENING. GLYCOL IS HIGHLY FLAMMABLE ONCE THE WATER IS VAPORIZED/EVAPORATED. THE APU START FOLLOWING THE LANDING AT DETROIT IGNITED THE RESIDUAL GLYCOL IN THE APU, CAUSING THE EXHAUST STACK FIRE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N715RC (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 727-257
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 22019
- Engines: P&W JT80-17 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, December 2, 1990, 0 hours before
- Departed: SEA, SEATTLE, WA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: DTW, Detroit

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, unknown; seat: left; flight hours: 830 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn
- Wind: 300° at 14 knots
- Lowest ceiling: 3,500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 18 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: NWS

## 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 19901205060259I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19901205060259I), Dec 5, 1990: Boeing 7272S7, Detroit, MI, Minor damage. Fire in right wheel well while taxiing. Evacuated. APU combustion can o ring had burned through.

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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