# NTSB DCA88MA052: de Havilland DHC-8, N819PH, Seattle, WA, April 16, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Major investigation · Final report
- Date: April 15, 1988, 18:32 local (Apr 16, 1988, 01:32 UTC)
- Place: Seattle, WA
- Coordinates: 47.479618, -122.290634 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.4796&lon=-122.2906&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 4 serious, 27 minor, 9 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 24, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Major Investigations Division
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15897
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA88MA052
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15897/pdf
- Board report AAR8902 (PDF): https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AAR8902.pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA88MA052

## Sequence of events

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

- Fire/explosion, climb - to cruise
  - fuel system,filter - leak (cause)
  - maintenance,installation - improper, manufacturer (cause)
  - maintenance,inspection - improper, manufacturer (cause)
  - maintenance,inspection - improper, company maintenance personnel (cause)
  - door,inspection - unlatched (contributing factor)
- Fire, approach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final
  - fire extinguisher,powerplant - disabled (contributing factor)
- Loss of engine power, approach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final
- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - hydraulic system,line - burned
  - electrical system,electric wiring - burned
  - hydraulic system - failure,total
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - object - airport facility

## Analysis

SHORTLY AFTER TKOF FROM SEATTLE-TACOMA INTL AIRPORT, THE CREW NOTED A RT ENG POWER LOSS AND DECIDED TO RETURN FOR A PRECAUTIONARY LNDG. AFTER LOWERING THE LNDG GEAR, A MASSIVE FIRE WAS DISCOVERED IN THE RT ENG NACELLE. AFTER LNDG, DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND ALL BRAKING WAS LOST. THE ACFT DEPARTED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RWY 16L AFTER THE LEFT POWER LEVER WAS MOVED TO FLT IDLE. THE F/O ADVISED TWR THAT THE ACFT WAS OUT OF CONTROL. THE ACFT ROLLED ONTO THE RAMP AREA WHERE IT STRUCK A RWY DESIGNATOR SIGN, GROUND EQUIPMENT, AND JETWAYS B7 AND B9. THE ACFT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY DESTROYED BY FIRE. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT DURING OVERHAUL THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL FILTER COVER WAS IMPROPERLY INSTALLED ON THE ENG AND THE IMPROPER INSTALLATION WAS NOT DISCOVERED DRG COMPANY INSTALLATION OF THE ENG ON THE ACFT. THIS LED TO A MASSIVE FUELLEAK AND THE NACELLE FIRE. THE FIRE/EXPLOSION CAUSED THE LOSS OF THE ENG PANELS, REDUCING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM AND ALLOWING OTHER SYSTEMS TO BE DAMAGED. (FOR FURTHER INFORMATION-SEE NTSB/AAR-89/02.)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N819PH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N819PH-1990-06-13), registration cancelled 1990-06-13, S/N 061 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: de Havilland DHC-8
- Registry model: [Dehavilland DHC-8-201](https://openairdocs.org/model/dehavilland-dhc-8-201) (registry code 2809001) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 061
- Airframe hours: 3106
- Engines: P&W PW120A 2100 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: In-Flight
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Horizon Air
- Registered owner: Horison Air, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, April 10, 1989
- Destination: GEG, SPOKANE, WA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: SER, Seattle-Tacoma Intl, runway 16L, 11,400 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 9,328 total, 981 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,800 ft overcast

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19880415048859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880415048859A), Apr 15, 1988: Dhav DHC8*, Seattle, WA, Destroyed. Fire in right engine, lost fuel pressure . Lost hydraulics and control on landing. Struck jetways at terminal.

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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