# NTSB DCA83IA035: Boeing 767, N609UA, Denver, CO, August 20, 1983

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: August 19, 1983, 18:20 local (Aug 20, 1983, 00:20 UTC)
- Place: Denver, CO
- Location: 39.7392° N, 104.9847° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Denver, CO, within about 7 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7392&lon=-104.9847&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 205 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Major Investigations Division
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15793
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA83IA035
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15793/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA83IA035

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, descent - normal
  - fuel system,nozzle - contamination (cause)

## Analysis

THE ACFT WAS DESCENDING FROM FL 410 WITH THE THROTTLES AT IDLE. AS POWER WAS ADDED AT FL 295 THE LEFT ENG SURGED & EXCEEDED MAX EGT. 18 SECS LATER THE RIGHT ENG SURGED & EXCEEDED ITS MAX EGT. THE LEFT & RIGHT ENGS WERE SHUT DOWN AT FL 200 & 177 RESPECTIVELY. THE ENGS WERE SUCCESSFULLY RESTARTED ABOUT FL 150. THE INABILITY OF THE ENGS TO ACCELERATE AFTER THE MANUALLY INDUCED SURGE WAS DUE TO CONTAMINATED FUEL NOZZLES WHICH SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED COMBUSTION CHAMBER EFFICIENCIES & WHICH RESULTED IN A SUBIDLE STALL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N609UA (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 767
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 21870
- Airframe hours: 2372
- Engines: P&W JT9D-7R4 24000 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Registered owner: United Airlines
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Departed: LAX, LOS ANGELES, CA
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 358 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 160° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: DEN, 40 nm away

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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