# NTSB DCA88IA056: Boeing 747-123, N157UA, Nr Tokyo, Japan, May 2, 1988

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: May 2, 1988, 18:16 local (19:16 UTC)
- Place: Nr Tokyo, Japan
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 258 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 25, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Major Investigations Division
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15889
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA88IA056
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15889/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA88IA056

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise - normal
  - fuel system - failure,partial (contributing factor)
  - fuel system,cross-feed valve - movement restricted (contributing factor)
- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal
  - 3 engines
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
  - fuel system - improper use of, flight engineer (cause)
  - lack of familiarity with aircraft, flight engineer (contributing factor)
  - procedures/directives - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - air/ground communications - not performed, pilot in command
  - crew/group coordination - inadequate (contributing factor)
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - lowering of flaps - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

UNITED FLT 97 EXPERIENCED INDICATIONS OF UNEVEN FUEL FLOW FROM MAIN TANKS 2 AND 3 AT FL360 BEGINNING ABOUT 4- HOURS AFTER DEPARTURE ON AN 11-HOUR TRANSPACIFIC FLIGHT. THE FUEL SYSTEM HAD BEEN SET UP FOR ALL ENGINE FEED FROM THE NOS 2 AND 3 TANKS. ALTHOUGH IT WAS LATER ESTABLISHED THAT THE NUMBER 2 CROSSFEED VALVE FAILED IN THE CLOSED POSITION, THE S/O INFORMED THE CAPT THAT THE INTRANSIT LIGHT HAD ILLUMINATED WHEN THE VALVE SELECTOR WAS MOVED TO THE CLOSED POSITION - INDICATING NORMAL CROSSFEED VALVE OPERATION. FUEL SYSTEM PROBLEM WAS MISDIAGNOSED AS A PROBLEM OF FAULTY FUEL GAGE INDICATIONS. FUEL MONITORING INDICATED INSUFFICIENT FUEL FLOW FROM NO 2 TANK WHEN CROSSFEEDING. ENGS 1, 3, AND 4 FLAMED OUT WHEN FUEL WAS EXPENDED FROM ALL TANKS EXCEPT NO 2. EMERGENCY DESCENT WAS MADE TO DESTINATION TOKYO-NARITA AIRPORT. CREW REPORTED THEY USED FLAPS-20, BUT DFDR SHOWED FLAPS-1 WAS USED FOR LANDING. 3 TIRES BLEW ON LANDING. ALL 3 FLIGHTCREW QUALIFIED IN THE B-747 IN THE 13-MONTHS BEFORE THE INCIDENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N157UA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N157UA-2000-01-03), registration cancelled 2000-01-03, S/N 20106 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 747-123
- Registry model: [Boeing 747-123](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-747-123) (registry code 1384873) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 20106
- Airframe hours: 39950
- Engines: P&W JT9D-7A 49960 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: United Airlines
- Registered owner: United Airlines
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Departed: LAX, LOS ANGELES, CA
- Destination: NRT, TOKYO, JAPAN, OF
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: NRT, Tokyo-Narita, runway 34

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; airline transport, flight engineer; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 20,000 total, 194 in this make and model, 11 in the last 30 days, 11 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 5 statute miles

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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