# NTSB CHI95LA049: Douglas DC-8-71F, N826BX, Chicago, IL, November 30, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 30, 1994, 05:35 local (11:35 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: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 6 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 29, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9806 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI95LA049 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9806/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI95LA049 ## Probable cause the failure of the ground crew to maintain an appropriate center of gravity while downloading cargo from the airplane. A factor was the ground crew's failure to follow established downloading procedures. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Tail gear collapsed, standing - engine(s) not operating - misc eqpt/furnishings,cargo restraints - not secured - aircraft weight and balance - not maintained, ground personnel (cause) - improper use of procedure, ground personnel (contributing factor) - Cargo shift, standing - engine(s) not operating ## Analysis IN A WRITTEN STATEMENT, A REPRESENTATIVE OF BURLINGTON EXPRESS REPORTED THAT AFTER THE AIRPLANE LANDED, FOUR CARGO TECHNICIANS BOARDED THE PLANE AND BEGAN DOWNLOADING PROCEDURES. THE CARGO LOCKS IN THE FRONT BELLY WERE REMOVED AND APPROXIMATELY 2,000 POUNDS OF CARGO WERE DOWNLOADED. THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNLOCKING CARGO IN THE TAIL WHEN THE AIRPLANE TAIL SETTLED. THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED MINOR DAMAGE TO THE CARGO DOOR AND AN ANTENNA. THE UNLOCKED PALLET FROM THE FRONT BELLY ROLLED AFT AND ONE OF THE TECHNICIANS WAS TRAPPED BY THE PALLET AND SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURY TO HIS FOOT. THE REPORT STATED THAT STANDARD PROCEDURES FOR DOWNLOADING THE AIRPLANE WERE 'POSSIBLY GLAZED OVER.' A FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION INSPECTOR WHO RESPONDED TO THE ACCIDENT REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS UNLOADED IMPROPERLY. THE BURLINGTON TRAINING MANUAL SPECIFIES THAT THE AIRPLANE SHOULD BE UNLOADED FROM THE REAR OF THE AIRPLANE FIRST. ## Factual narrative On November 30, 1994, about 0535 central standard time, Burlington Express flight 814, a Douglas DC-8-71F, N826BX, operated by Air Transport International, sustained minor damage when the tail stand collapsed at the O'Hare International Airport, Chicago, Illinois. A ground crew member, who was unloading the airplane, reported serious injury. The three flight crew members, who had not deplaned, and three other ground crew members, also on board, reported no injuries. The 14 CFR Part 121 flight had landed at 0522 and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. In a written statement, a representative of Burlington Express reported that the airplane landed in Chicago at 0522. He said a tail stand was installed and four cargo technicians boarded the plane and began downloading procedures. The cargo locks in the front belly P1 position were removed and approximately 2,000 pounds of cargo were downloaded, leaving 2,100 pounds in the P1 position. The technicians were unlocking the P12 position and the airplane tail settled. The airplane sustained minor damage to the cargo door and an antenna. The unlocked pallet from the P1 position rolled aft to the P11 position. Three of the technicians avoided the moving pallet. The fourth technician was trapped by the pallet and sustained serious injury to his foot. The report stated that standard procedures for downloading the airplane were "possibly glazed over." Additionally, the scheduled turn around time for this flight was 45 minutes and "safety might be and has been compromised to make the turn". A Federal Aviation Administration Inspector who responded to the accident reported that the airplane was unloaded improperly. The Burlington training manual specifies that the airplane should be unloaded from the rear of the airplane first. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N826BX](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N826BX-2014-01-06), registration cancelled 2014-01-06, S/N 45998, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: DOUGLAS DC-8-71F - Registry model: [Douglas DC-8-71F](https://openairdocs.org/model/douglas-dc-8-71f) (registry code 302199D) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [CFM International CFM56 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/cfm-international-cfm56-series) (registry code 13802, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 45998 - Airframe hours: 7586 - Engines: CFM CFM56-2C-1 22000 lbs thrust turbo jet - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: Air Transport International, doing business as Burlington Express - Registered owner: Aero USA, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, November 30, 1994, 2 hours before - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: ORD, O'Hare International ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 18,600 total, 5,600 in this make and model, 16,000 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn - Wind: 240° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 25 °F, dew point 19 °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 19941130044059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941130044059A), Nov 30, 1994: Doug DC871F, Chicago, IL, Minor damage. Unloaded forward cargo first contrary to instructions. Failed lock rack. Rolled aft. Tail hit ramp. Damage door. 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.