# NTSB DCA88IA044: Mcdonnell Douglas DC-10-40, N154US, Boston, MA, March 30, 1988

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: March 30, 1988, 18:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place: Boston, MA
- Location: 42.3629° N, 71.0064° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at GENERAL EDWARD LAWRENCE LOGAN INTL (BOS), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3629&lon=-71.0064&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 86 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 31, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Major Investigations Division
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15888
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA88IA044
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15888/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA88IA044

## Probable cause

THE IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF THE BATTERY GROUND CONNECTION THAT RESULTED IN PREMATURE LOOSENING OF THE CONNECTION AND ELECTRICAL ARC IGNITION OF POOLED FUEL IN THE CAC BILGE. THE FUEL WAS NOT DRAINED OVERBOARD DUE TO INOPERATIVE CAC BILGE AREA DRAIN VALVES.  CONTRIBUTING TO THE INCIDENT WAS NORTHWEST'S NON-COMPLIANCE WITH A SERVICE BULLETIN TO MODIFY THE GROUND CABLE ATTACHMENT BRACKET TO PREVENT LOOSENING OF THE CONNECTION.

## Sequence of events

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

- Fire, taxi - from landing
  - fuel system,tank - leak (contributing factor)
  - hydraulic system - leak
  - electrical system,battery
  - electrical system,electric wiring - loose (cause)
  - maintenance,installation - improper, company maintenance personnel (cause)
  - electrical system,electric wiring - arcing (cause)
  - maintenance,service bulletin/letter - not followed, company maintenance personnel (contributing factor)
  - fuselage - fire
  - fire warning system,airframe - inadequate

## Analysis

DRG TAXI TO GATE AFTER LDG, CREW STARTED APU NORMALLY. WHILE TAXIING NR 3 PNEUMATIC DUCT FAIL LT ILLUMINATED. LATER, THE CENTER ACCESSORY COMPT (CAC) DOOR WARNING LT ILLUMINATED AND GND PERS SAW SMOKE EMANATING FM THE FUSELAGE OUTFLOW VALVES. AFTER ENG SHUTDOWN, SMOKE ENTERED THE CABIN AND THE APU TRIPPED OFF. FIRE DEPT PERS FND CAC OUTSIDE DOOR HOT, THEN, USING CABIN FLOOR HATCH, OBSRVED 1-2 FT HIGH FLAMES IN CAC. FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED WITH DMG LIMITED TO CAC. INVEST REVEALED IMPROPER/LOOSE BATTERY GND CONNECTION. NORMAL CABLE MOVEMENT WOULD LOOSEN CONNECTION DRG BATT DISCONNECT. BURNED INSULATION BLANKETS MET SPEC BUT WERE COATED WITH SYNTHETIC HYD FLUID (SLAT ACTUATOR LKG) AND JET FUEL. FIRE PATTERN SUGGESTED FUEL SEEPAGE ALONG BULKHEAD FASTENER LINE. BATT GND LAST INSTALLED NOV,87. BATT LAST CHDG 2 WKS BEFORE INCIDENT. SERVICE BULLETIN PERTAINING TO BATT GND NOT COMPLIED. INOPERATIVE CAC DRAIN VALVES ALLOWED FUEL TO POOL IN CAC BILGE. NO CAC FIRE WARNING OR EXTINGUISHER SYSTEM WAS INSTALLED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N154US](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N154US-2001-11-26), registration cancelled 2001-11-26, S/N 46763, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MCDONNELL DOUGLAS DC-10-40
- Registry model: [Douglas DC-10-40](https://openairdocs.org/model/douglas-dc-10-40) (registry code 3023508) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney JT9D-3A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-jt9d-3a) (registry code 52050, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 46763
- Airframe hours: 33818
- Engines: P&W JT9D-20 49400 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Minor damage
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 121
- Registered owner: Northwest Airlines, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, March 21, 1988, 61 hours before
- Departed: JFK, NEW YORK, NY
- Destination: BOS
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: BOS, Logan Int'L, runway 4R, 10,005 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 14,156 total, 4,464 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 150° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 43 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: BOS

## 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 19880330010239I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880330010239I), Mar 30, 1988: Doug DC1040, Boston, MA, Minor damage. Fire in lower compartment while taxiing to gate. Found APU battery had signs of overheating and caused the fire.

## Other investigations on N154US (1)

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.

- [NTSB CHI83IA228](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI83IA228), May 26, 1983: Mcdonnell Douglas DC-10-40 (N154US), Clarion, PA, incident, no damage

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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