# NTSB DCA10CA061: Boeing 747, N498MC, Miami, FL, May 17, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 17, 2010, 22:33 UTC - Place: Miami, FL - Coordinates: 25.795278, -80.29 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.7953&lon=-80.2900&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Flight control sys malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 23, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Major Investigations Division - Parties: FAA, Atlas Air/Polar Air Cargo, Boeing - NTSB case key (mKey): 76055 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA10CA061 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76055/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76055 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA10CA061 ## Probable cause impact of the fore flap with the aft fuselage after fatigue failure of the right wing fore flap carriage assembly attachment fitting at position 6. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wing structure: trailing edge flaps](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035753): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Fatigue/wear/corrosion (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing 747-47UF, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035753/cases.md?model=1384812), [All aircraft, 33 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035753/cases.md) - [Wing structure: trailing edge flaps](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035753): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing 747-47UF, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035753/cases.md?model=1384812), [All aircraft, 33 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035753/cases.md) - [Fuselage: fuselage main structure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035310): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Damaged/degraded; cases with it: [Boeing 747-47UF, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035310/cases.md?model=1384812), [All aircraft, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035310/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Flight control sys malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333) (defining event); cases with it: [Boeing 747-47UF, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333/sequence.md?model=1384812), [All aircraft, 410 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333/sequence.md) ## Analysis On May 17, 2010, an Atlas Air Cargo Boeing 747-400F, N498MC, lost a section of the left fore-flap while on approach to Miami International Airport (KMIA), Miami, Florida. The airplane was substantially damaged when the flap portion impacted the fuselage. There were no injuries to the flight crew and the airplane landed without further incident. The cargo flight originated from Rio de Janeiro-Galeão-Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport (BGL), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. According to the operator, the flight crew heard and felt a large impact after 30 degree flaps was selected during the approach. Postflight inspection revealed that approximately twelve feet of the right wing inboard fore flap was missing and had caused substantial damage to the aft fuselage. The separated section of the fore flap was recovered and examined. The examination revealed that a large portion of the enamel was missing from the fore flap attachment fitting of the carriage assembly and that there was a large amount of contamination and grease buildup around the lubrication fitting. Extensive corrosion byproducts covered up the lubrication passage in the attachment, which prevented passage of grease to the bearing, causing extensive corrosion in the bore and propagated by fatigue before final ductile separation. ## Factual narrative On May 17, 2010, an Atlas Air Cargo Boeing 747-400F, N498MC, lost a section of the left fore-flap while on approach to Miami International Airport (KMIA), Miami, Florida. The airplane was substantially damaged when the flap portion impacted the fuselage. There were no injuries to the flight crew and the airplane landed without further incident. The cargo flight originated from Rio de Janeiro-Galeão-Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport (BGL), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. According to the operator, the flight crew heard and felt a large impact after 30 degree flaps was selected during the approach. Postflight inspection revealed that approximately twelve feet of the right wing inboard fore flap was missing and had caused substantial damage to the aft fuselage. The separated section of the fore flap was recovered and examined. The examination revealed that a large portion of the enamel was missing from the fore flap attachment fitting of the carriage assembly and that there was a large amount of contamination and grease buildup around the lubrication fitting. Extensive corrosion byproducts covered up the lubrication passage in the attachment, which prevented passage of grease to the bearing, causing extensive corrosion in the bore and propagated by fatigue before final ductile separation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N498MC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N498MC), registered now, S/N 29259, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BOEING 747 (400F) - Registry model: [Boeing 747-47UF](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-747-47uf) (registry code 1384812) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [GE CF6-80 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/ge-cf6-80-series) (registry code 30025, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 29259 - Airframe hours: 47281 - Engines: CF6 80C2BF5 turbo fan; CF6 80C2BF5 turbo fan; CF6 80C2BF5 turbo fan; CF6 80C2BF5 turbo fan - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: Atlas Air Inc - Registered owner: NCC Kay Co - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, March 31, 2010 - Departed: SBGL, Rio de Janeiro - Destination: MIA, Miami, FL - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: MIA, Miami International Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 23,000 total, 944 in this make and model - Co-pilot; age 54; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 19,300 total, 249 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20100517035569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100517035569A), May 17, 2010: Boeing 747-47UF, Miami, FL, Substantial damage. On may 17, 2010, aircraft N498MC serial number 29259, a Boeing 747-47UF, arrived at Miami International Airport (mia) operating flight GTI8865 from viracopos,… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 26, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76055. 5.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 228 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40448681&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Structures 7 - Factual Report of Group Chairman (item 2, .PDF, 40 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40342354&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Structures%207%20-%20Factual%20Report%20of%20Group%20Chairman-Master.PDF - Structures 7 - Attachment 1 (item 3, .PDF, 9 photos, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40342356&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Structures%207%20-%20Attachment%201-Master.PDF - Structures 7 - Attachment 2 (item 4, .PDF, 23 photos, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40342382&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Structures%207%20-%20Attachment%202-Redacted.PDF 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.