# NTSB DCA87IA037: Mcdonnell Douglas DC-10-30, N391EA, Miami, FL, June 27, 1987

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · Minor injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: June 26, 1987, 21:05 local (Jun 27, 1987, 01:05 UTC)
- Place: Miami, FL
- Location: 25.7743° N, 80.1937° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Miami, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.7743&lon=-80.1937&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 220 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 10, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Major Investigations Division
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15867
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA87IA037
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15867/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA87IA037

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, descent
  - air cond/heating/pressurization - failure,partial (cause)
  - air cond/heating/pressurization - dumped (cause)

## Analysis

EAL FLIGHT 23 EXPERIENCED A RAPID DECOMPRESSION DURING DESCENT INTO MIAMI. FLIGHT 23 DEPARTED LAX WITH 3 FLIGHT CREW, 8 F/A AND 210 PAX. ON CLIMBOUT THE S/O OBSERVED THAT THE MANUAL OUTFLOW VALVE CONTROL WHEEL DID NOT MOVE TOWARD THE 1/2 CLOSED POSITION AS IT SHOULD HAVE. PRESS SYSTEM WAS BEING OPERATED IN SEMI-AUTO MODE. S/O TRIED STANDBY SYSTEM, THEN WENT TO MANUAL. HE OBSERVED THAT THE MANUAL CONTROL WHEEL WAS HARD TO MOVE. S/O USED MANUAL CONTROL TO CRUISE ALT, THEN TRIED STANDBY SYS WHICH HELD CABIN ALT. UPON DESCENT TO MIA, THE WHEEL MOVED RAPIDLY TO THE OPEN POSITION. S/O WAS UNABLE TO CLOSE OUTFLOW VALVE USING MANUAL SYSTEM-WHEEL WOULD NOT MOVE. CREW DONNED 02 MASKS AND EXECUTED EMGY DESCNT T0 10,000, AT 5500 FPM. ACFT WAS LANDED WITH OUTFLOW VALVE FULL OPEN. ONE F/A SUFFERED RUPTURED EAR DRUM AND ONE 02 GENERATOR CANISTER CAUSED SMOKE IN CABIN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N391EA (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: MCDONNELL DOUGLAS DC-10-30
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: N391EA
- Engines: GE CF6-6D 40500 horsepower turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Eastern Airlines, doing business as Eastern Airlines
- Registered owner: Eastern Airlines
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Departed: LAX, LOS ANGELES, CA
- Destination: MIA, MIAMI, FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: MIA, Miami Int'L, runway 9L, 10,502 × 200 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, unknown; seat: left; flight hours: 20,251 total, 676 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Lowest ceiling: none

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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