# NTSB DCA81AA008: Douglas DC-10, N143US, Leesburg, VA, January 31, 1981

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: January 31, 1981
- Place: Leesburg, VA · LEESBURG, VA
- Location: 39.1028° N, 77.5545° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Leesburg, VA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1028&lon=-77.5545&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 53 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 7, 1981
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 79707
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA81AA008
- Board report AAR8110 (PDF): https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AAR8110.pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA81AA008

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4-0018  81/1/31    LEESBURG,VA         DOUGLAS DC-10       CR-  0  0 10  SCHED DOM PASSG SRV       AIRLINE TRANSPORT, AGE
        TIME - 1806                    N143US              PX-  0  0 43                            49, 16790 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-MINOR        OT-  0  0  0                            1414 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        CLASSIFIED AS INCIDENT
        OPERATOR - NORTHWEST AIRLINES,INC.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          BOSTON,MA                   SEATTLE,WA                   CHANTILLY,VA
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: CLIMB TO CRUISE
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - COMPRESSOR ASSEMBLY: FAN
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FATIGUE FRACTURE
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS - FOREIGN OBJECT DAMAGE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - VIBRATION,EXCESSIVE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - SEPARATION IN FLIGHT
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        REMARKS- NO 30 FAN BLADE IN NO 3 ENG FAILED,FATIGUE BGN AT PREEXISTING HI TEMP ARC BURN.COWL/FAN CASE SEPD.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: N143US (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: DOUGLAS DC-10
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: turbo fan
- Damage: Minor damage
- Airport: Dulles Intl

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 19810131011609I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810131011609I), Jan 31, 1981: Doug DC1040, Leesburg, VA, Minor damage. Crew heard and felt explosion with failure of no 3 engine. Entire nose cowl had separated at b flange.

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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