# NTSB DCA86IA037: Mcdonnell Douglas DC-10-40, N184AT, Chicago, IL, August 10, 1986

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: August 10, 1986, 07:15 local (12:15 UTC)
- Place: Chicago, IL
- Location: 41.9769° N, 87.9081° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at CHICAGO O'HARE INTL (ORD), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9769&lon=-87.9081&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Major Investigations Division
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15861
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA86IA037
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15861/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA86IA037

## Sequence of events

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

- Hazardous materials leak/spill, standing
  - supervision - improper, company/operator management (contributing factor)
  - lack of familiarity with aircraft, company/operator management (contributing factor)
  - tie down - improper, company/operator management (contributing factor)
  - oxygen system - not understood, company maintenance personnel (contributing factor)
  - oxygen system - information insufficient, company maintenance personnel (cause)
  - lack of familiarity with aircraft, company maintenance personnel (contributing factor)
  - fuselage,cargo compartment - fire
  - fire extinguishing equipment - not used, company maintenance personnel
- Fire, standing

## Analysis

A CHARTER FLT ARRIVED & DEPLANED WITHOUT INCIDENT & WITH NO INDICATION OF SMOKE, FUMES OR HEAT. COMPANY MAINT PSNL HAD PLACED DAMAGED PASSENGER SEATBACKS (INCORPORATING SOLID-STATE CHEMICAL OXYGEN GENERATORS) IN THE FWD CARGO COMPARTMENT WITH SEAT COVERS & OIL. A COMPANY MECHANIC EXAMINED THE SEATBACKS TO FIND A SERVICEABLE UNIT. HE FOUND A LOOSE OXYGEN CANISTER & HANDLED IT IMPROPERLY BY ITS OXYGEN HOSE. SUCH HANDLING CAN RELEASE THE FIRING PIN, FIRE THE PERCUSSION CAP, TRIGGER A CHEMICAL REACTION, & GENERATE OXYGEN. THIS CAN GENERATE UP TO 430 DEG OF HEAT OUTSIDE THE CANISTER. A FIRE BGNIN THE FWD CARGO COMPARTMENT IN THE VICINITY OF WHERE AN OXYGEN CANISTER WAS FND (LATER) WITH A DENTED STRIKER PLATE. THE SEAT COVERS IGNITED, FIRE BURNED THRU THE CABIN FLOOR, & SUBSEQUENTLY, IT SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE CABIN. COMPANY MAINT PSNL DID NOT KNOW THAT OXYGEN GENERATORS, CARRIED AS COMPANY SUPPLIES, WERE HAZARDOUS MATERIALS. THE MECHANIC WAS NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE REPAIR OR INSTALLATION OF THE PASSENGER SUPPLEMENTAL OXYGEN EQUIPMENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N184AT (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: MCDONNELL DOUGLAS DC-10-40
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 46751
- Airframe hours: 29155
- Engines: P&W JT9D-20 turbo fan
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 121
- Registered owner: American Trans Air Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Departed: LAX, LOS ANGELES, CA
- Airport: ORD, O'Hare Intl

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; medical: unknown, unknown

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 160° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 19860810087129I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860810087129I), Aug 10, 1986: Doug DC1040, Chicago, IL, Destroyed. While aircraft was parked at the gate a mechanic unknownly activated a oxygen canister from a seatback. Caused fire

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.