# NTSB DCA22LA175: Boeing 777, Chicago, IL, August 6, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: August 5, 2022, 20:32 local (Aug 6, 2022, 01:32 UTC)
- Place: Chicago, IL
- Coordinates: 41.9803, -87.909 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9803&lon=-87.9090&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Taxi-from runway: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Major Investigations Division
- NTSB case key (mKey): 105684
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA22LA175
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105684/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105684
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA22LA175

## Probable cause

The ground controller’s inappropriate routing of the B777 through a non-movement area, resulting in the airplane’s right wingtip contacting a light pole. Contributing to the accident was the lack of an appropriate display of taxiway BB2 as a restricted movement area on the ASDE-X and the flight crew’s acceptance of ATC instruction that was contrary to NOTAM information.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Personnel issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000): Personnel issues › Task performance · ATC personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 137 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000/cases.md)
- [Personnel issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02030000): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Flight crew (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02030000/cases.md)
- [Design: interface design](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04011030): Organizational issues › Development · ATC (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04011030/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Taxi-from runway: Air traffic event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/100); cases with it: [All aircraft, 115 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/100/sequence.md)
- [Taxi-from runway: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md)

## Analysis

Qatar Airways flight 8141 struck a light pole with its right wingtip while taxing to parking at Chicago O’Hare International Airport (KORD), Chicago, Illinois. The 2 pilots on board were uninjured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The non-scheduled international cargo flight was operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 129 from Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (KATL), Atlanta, Georgia, to KORD. After landing runway 10C at KORD, the tower controller instructed the accident airplane to taxi off the runway via taxiway F followed by a left turn onto taxiway P, and to contact ground on 121.75. The ground controller verified the flight was cargo and instructed the aircraft to continue to taxiway CC and hold short of runway 10L. Shortly after the hold, they were cleared to cross runway 10L, instructed to hold short of taxiway K, and told to contact ground on 121.9. According to air traffic control (ATC) audio, the ground controller instructed the accident airplane to turn left on taxiway K and taxi via taxiway BB to taxiway BB2 to taxiway Z. While taxiing down taxiway BB2, the right wingtip contacted a light pole in the central deicing area adjacent to the taxiway. Figure 1. Airport diagram zoomed into the area of aircraft collision with light pole - with taxi route (green line) and accident location (yellow star) superimposed onto the airport map. The Qatar Airways crew had access to information on the taxi limitations on taxiway BB2. The FAA chart supplement valid for the time of the accident stated in the airport remarks on the 2nd page that taxiway BB2 was closed “to wingspan more than 118 ft.” Additionally, an airport notice to air mission (NOTAM), valid at the time of the accident, designated that taxiway AA between taxiway K and taxiway U as a non-movement area between June 5 and October 15, 2022. The crew reported reviewing NOTAMs prior to leaving their departure airport and the captain was referencing the airport diagram on his electronic flight bag during the taxi since this was his second time at the airport and the first time for the first officer. Taxiway BB2 was on the southern border of the central deicing facility for the airport. The area on taxiway BB2 where the accident occurred (between taxiway Z and taxiway AA) was considered a non-movement area as part of the central deicing facility and was not to be used to route taxiing aircraft. Facility SOPs noted that “all non-movement areas will be depicted on the ASDE-X as a restricted trait area (YELLOW BOX)” At the time of the accident, the ASDE-X depicted a yellow restricted trait area for the central deicing pad, however the restricted area on the display did not extend to taxiway BB2, despite the taxiway’s classification as a non-movement area. Figure 2: Screen capture zoomed into the area of impact at the time of event from the FAA legal recording playback of the ASDE-X display processor. The accident aircraft is shown as an orangeairplane symbol, and the restricted trait area is shown within the hashed yellow box. (Source: FAA)

## Aircraft

- Registration: A7-BFH (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 777 (FDZ)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 42298
- Engines: General Electric GE90-115B 115000 lbs thrust turbo fan; General Electric GE90-115B 115000 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 129
- Operator: Qatar Airways Group Q.J.S.C, doing business as Qatar Airways - Qatar Airways Cargo
- Registered owner: Qatar Aviation Lease Company Q.J.S.C
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, July 12, 2022
- Departed: KATL, Atlanta, GA
- Destination: Same as departure
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: ORD, Chicago O'Hare Intl, runway 10C, 10,800 × 200 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: ADS-B, Angle of attack indicator, Auto-pilot, Data recorder, Stall warning system, Satellite tracking device, Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 11, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 21,656 total, 471 in this make and model, 15,945 as pilot in command, 221 in the last 90 days, 54 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours
- Co-pilot; age 35; injuries: none; airline transport, foreign; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 2, 2022; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 5,162 total, 234 in this make and model, 115 as pilot in command, 157 in the last 90 days, 73 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night
- Wind: 220° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 8,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg

## Docket (6 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 25, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105684. 117 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 468 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14357003&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB-Accident%20Incident%20Reporting%20Form%20-%20QR%208141_redacted-Rel.pdf
- Flight crew statements - captain (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 111 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14356647&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Capt%20%20statement_redacted-Rel.pdf
- Flight crew statements - first officer (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 75 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14357491&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=First%20Officer%20Statement_redacted-Rel.pdf
- Notice to air men (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 24 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15137825&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NOTAMS-Rel.pdf
- Ord ground control frequency audio (item 5, WAV, 116 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15138020&FileExtension=wav&FileName=08-06-22%20QTR67X%20(D)%20IGC-Rel.wav
- Ord air traffic procedures (excerpts) (item 6, PDF, 2 pages, 173 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15138454&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA_SOPs-Rel.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.

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