DCA12CA082

NTSB accident investigation · Boeing 747 · Chicago, IL · May 30, 2012

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
May 30, 2012, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC)
Place
Chicago, IL
Injuries
24 uninjured
Phase of flight
Taxi
Aircraft
B16481Boeing 747N834AEEmbraer EMB 135KL
Defining events
Taxi-to runway: Ground collisionStanding-engine(s) operating: Ground collision
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report April 8, 2016
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Major Investigations Division
FAA report
20120530010572A
Case key
83801

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

On this page

Probable cause

the B747 Captain's failure to maintain a safe clearance between his wing and the tail of the EMB135 that was stopped on a taxiway.

the 747 flight crew's failure to maintain a safe clearance with the EMB-135 that was stopped on a taxiway.

Findings · 4

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Boeing 747

Perception/orientation/illusion: perceptionPersonnel issues › Psychological · Flight crewAll aircraft: 61 casesProbable cause
Action: incorrect action performancePersonnel issues › Action/decision · Flight crewAll aircraft: 1,386 casesProbable cause

N834AE · Embraer EMB 135KL

Perception/orientation/illusion: perceptionPersonnel issues › Psychological · Pilot of other aircraftEmbraer EMB-135KL: 1 caseAll aircraft: 61 casesProbable cause
Action: incorrect action performancePersonnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot of other aircraftEmbraer EMB-135KL: 2 casesAll aircraft: 1,386 casesProbable cause

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Boeing 747

Ground collisionTaxi-to runwayAll aircraft: 618 casesDefining event

N834AE · Embraer EMB 135KL

Analysis

On May 30, 2012, at about 1300 central daylight time, American Eagle Airlines flight 4265, an Embraer EMB-135, N834AE, was holding in the ramp area when it was struck by EVA Air flight 661, a Boeing 747-400, registration B16481, while the 747 was taxiing at Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), Chicago, Illinois. The EMB-135 received substantial damage to its rudder and vertical stabilizer and the 747 received minor damage to its wingtip and slat. There were no injuries to any of the passengers or crew on either airplane. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The EMB-135 was holding in the ramp area with its tail protruding into taxiway (TWY) A while awaiting ground personnel to marshal them into gate G20. The 747 was initially parked at cargo bay SC6 and was instructed to taxi to runway 32L for departure. After crossing runway 28 and taxiing along TWY A, the 747 flight crew stated they saw the EMB-135 stopped short of gate G20. As the 747 approached the EMB-135, the captain stated that he knew it would be close and asked the other two flight crew members to help ensure there was enough wing tip clearance. Both of these crew members stated that there should be enough clearance based on their perspective in the cockpit. As the 747 taxied past the EMB-135, the leading edge slat of the B747 struck the vertical stabilizer of the EMB-135.

On May 30, 2012, at about 1300 central daylight time, American Eagle Airlines flight 4265, an Embraer EMB-135, N834AE, was holding in the ramp area when it was struck by EVA Air flight 661, a Boeing 747-400, registration B16481, while the 747 was taxiing at Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), Chicago, Illinois. The EMB-135 received substantial damage to its rudder and vertical stabilizer and the 747 received minor damage to its wingtip and slat. There were no injuries to any of the passengers or crew on either airplane. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The EMB-135 was holding in the ramp area with its tail protruding into taxiway (TWY) A while awaiting ground personnel to marshal them into gate G20. The 747 was initially parked at cargo bay SC6 and was instructed to taxi to runway 32L for departure. After crossing runway 28 and taxiing along TWY A, the 747 flight crew stated they saw the EMB-135 stopped short of gate G20. As the 747 approached the EMB-135, the captain stated that he knew it would be close and asked the other two flight crew members to help ensure there was enough wing tip clearance. Both of these crew members stated that there should be enough clearance based on their perspective in the cockpit. As the 747 taxied past the EMB-135, the leading edge slat of the B747 struck the vertical stabilizer of the EMB-135.

Factual narrative

On May 30, 2012, at about 1300 central daylight time, American Eagle Airlines flight 4265, an Embraer EMB-135, N834AE, was holding in the ramp area when it was struck by EVA Air flight 661, a Boeing 747-400, registration B16481, while the 747 was taxiing at Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), Chicago, Illinois. The EMB-135 received substantial damage to its rudder and vertical stabilizer and the 747 received minor damage to its wingtip and slat. There were no injuries to any of the passengers or crew on either airplane. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The EMB-135 was holding in the ramp area with its tail protruding into taxiway (TWY) A while awaiting ground personnel to marshal them into gate G20. The 747 was initially parked at cargo bay SC6 and was instructed to taxi to runway 32L for departure. After crossing runway 28 and taxiing along TWY A, the 747 flight crew stated they saw the EMB-135 stopped short of gate G20. As the 747 approached the EMB-135, the captain stated that he knew it would be close and asked the other two flight crew members to help ensure there was enough wing tip clearance. Both of these crew members stated that there should be enough clearance based on their perspective in the cockpit. As the 747 taxied past the EMB-135, the leading edge slat of the B747 struck the vertical stabilizer of the EMB-135.

On May 30, 2012, at about 1300 central daylight time, American Eagle Airlines flight 4265, an Embraer EMB-135, N834AE, was holding in the ramp area when it was struck by EVA Air flight 661, a Boeing 747-400, registration B16481, while the 747 was taxiing at Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), Chicago, Illinois. The EMB-135 received substantial damage to its rudder and vertical stabilizer and the 747 received minor damage to its wingtip and slat. There were no injuries to any of the passengers or crew on either airplane. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The EMB-135 was holding in the ramp area with its tail protruding into taxiway (TWY) A while awaiting ground personnel to marshal them into gate G20. The 747 was initially parked at cargo bay SC6 and was instructed to taxi to runway 32L for departure. After crossing runway 28 and taxiing along TWY A, the 747 flight crew stated they saw the EMB-135 stopped short of gate G20. As the 747 approached the EMB-135, the captain stated that he knew it would be close and asked the other two flight crew members to help ensure there was enough wing tip clearance. Both of these crew members stated that there should be enough clearance based on their perspective in the cockpit. As the 747 taxied past the EMB-135, the leading edge slat of the B747 struck the vertical stabilizer of the EMB-135.

Aircraft · 2

Registration
B16481
Reported as
Boeing 747 (45EF)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
30607
Airframe hours
57,114
Engines
GE CF6-80C2-B1F, 57,160 lbs thrust, turbo fanGE CF6-80C2-B1F, 57,160 lbs thrust, turbo fanGE CF6-80C2-B1F, 57,160 lbs thrust, turbo fanGE CF6-80C2-B1F, 57,160 lbs thrust, turbo fan
Damage
Minor damage
Flight
Part 129
Operator
Eva Airways Corp
Registered owner
Julystar 747-00 Limited
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Transport
Last inspection
Continuous airworthiness · May 16, 2012
Departed
ORD · Chicago, IL
Destination
ANC · Anchorage, AK
Flight plan
IFR
Airport
ORD · Chicago O’Hare International
Registration
N834AE
Reported as
Embraer EMB 135KL (NO SERIES)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
145631
Built
2002
Airframe hours
24,059
Engines
Rolls Royce CAE312447, turbo jetRolls Royce CAE311602, turbo jet
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Part 121
Operator
American Airlines Inc
Registered owner
American Airlines Inc
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Continuous airworthiness · May 26, 2012
Departed
SGF · Springfield, MO
Destination
ORD · Chicago, IL
Flight plan
IFR
Airport
ORD · Chicago O’Hare International

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew · 4

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot, aircraft 1
Age
57
Injuries
None
Certificate
Airline transport
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
April 13, 2012
Seat
Left
Flight hours
15,661 total · 6,244 in this make and model · 5,636 as pilot in command · 247 in the last 90 days · 93 in the last 30 days
Role
Co-pilot, aircraft 1
Age
60
Injuries
None
Certificate
Airline transport
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
March 14, 2012
Seat
Right
Flight hours
16,108 total · 7,327 in this make and model · 212 in the last 90 days · 80 in the last 30 days
Role
Pilot, aircraft N834AE
Age
35
Injuries
None
Certificates
Airline transport, Private, Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
June 17, 2012
Seat
Left
Flight hours
7,421 total · 6,171 in this make and model · 169 in the last 90 days · 42 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Role
Co-pilot, aircraft N834AE
Age
27
Injuries
None
Certificates
Airline transport, Commercial, Private
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
June 15, 2011
Seat
Right
Flight hours
3,386 total · 201 in the last 90 days · 86 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
310° at 9 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
6,000 ft broken
Temperature
70 °F, dew point 43 °F
Altimeter
29.90 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.