# NTSB CHI94IA134: British Aerospace BAE-146-200, N609AW, Chicago, IL, April 17, 1994 - Type: NTSB incident investigation - Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report - Date: April 17, 1994, 11:35 local (16:35 UTC) - Place: Chicago, IL - Location: 41.8500° N, 87.6501° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Chicago, IL, within about 9 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8500&lon=-87.6501&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 72 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 25, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9402 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI94IA134 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9402/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI94IA134 ## Probable cause a loose fuel nozzle. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Fire, climb - to cruise - fuel system,nozzle - loose (cause) ## Analysis During climb after takeoff the number two engine fire warning activated. The flight crew secured the engine and completed the emergency checklist. The captain declared an emergency and returned to the airport. After landing, the captain directed the first officer, and the fire department to visually inspect the number two engine. No fire damage was evident. The airplane was taxied to the gate and the passengers were deplaned. Examination of the engine revealed a loose fuel nozzle in the right hand fuel manifold on the number two engine. ## Factual narrative On April 17, 1994, at 1135 central daylight time, a British Aerospace BAe-146, N609AW, operated by Air Wisconsin, Inc., as United Express flight 5272, had a fire warning in the number-two engine during climb after departure from Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Chicago, Illinois. The flight crew shut down the engine, activated the fire extinguisher, declared an emergency, and landed at O'Hare without further incident. There were no injuries to the four crew members, or 68 passengers aboard the airplane. There was no emergency evacuation. The flight was a domestic passenger flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 121, from Chicago to Lexington, Kentucky. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and an IFR flight plan was filed. The captain stated he directed the first officer and the ground fire personnel to visually inspect the engine after the airplane cleared the runway. There was no sign of fire. The airplane was taxied to the gate, and the passengers were deplaned. When the number two engine was inspected, a loose fuel nozzle was found in the right hand fuel manifold. The fuel manifold was installed on this engine on February 5, 1994. The manifold had accrued 401 hours and 543 cycles since installation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N609AW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N609AW-2012-12-13), registration cancelled 2012-12-13, S/N E2070, built 1987 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BRITISH AEROSPACE BAE-146-200 (BAE-146-20) - Registry model: [British Aerospace BAE 146 SERIES 200](https://openairdocs.org/model/british-aerospace-bae-146-series-200) (registry code 1500265) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming ALF-502 SER. series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-alf-502-ser-series) (registry code 41580, turbo-jet) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: E2070 - Airframe hours: 13385 - Engines: LYCOMING ALF-502R-5 7000 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: No damage - Fire: In-Flight - Flight: Part 121 - Registered owner: Air Wisconsin, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, April 16, 1994, 0 hours before - Destination: LEX, LEXINGTON, KY - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 18,528 total, 5,692 in this make and model, 213 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 16 knots - Visibility: 12 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: ORD, 10 nm away ## Other investigations on N609AW (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 DEN91IA026](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN91IA026), Dec 15, 1990: British Aerospace BAE 146-200 (N609AW), Denver, CO, incident, minor damage. Probable cause: THE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE NO.12 BLADE ON THE 4TH STAGE TURBINE WHEEL, AND FAILURE OF COMPANY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL TO IDENTIFY THE PREEXISTING CRACK DURING MAINTENANCE INSPECTION. 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.