# NTSB DEN84IA116: Boeing 727-224, N88709, Denver, CO, March 22, 1984

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: March 22, 1984, 09:43 local (16:43 UTC)
- Place: Denver, CO
- Coordinates: 39.730895, -104.919059 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7309&lon=-104.9191&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 133 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16270
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN84IA116
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16270/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN84IA116

## Sequence of events

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

- Miscellaneous/other, landing - flare/touchdown
  - door,entrance stair - unlocked (contributing factor)
  - procedures/directives - not understood, pilot in command (cause)
  - door,entrance stair - open (contributing factor)

## Analysis

PRIOR TO TAXIING AT CHICAGO, THE PLT HAD THE RAMP AGENT(R/A) CHECK THE REAR AIRSTAIR AS THE AFT AIRSTAIR LIGHT ON THE SECOND OFFICER'S PANEL WAS 'ON'. THE R/A RECYCLED THE AIRSTAIR & REPORTED THAT IT APPEARED CLOSED. THE LIGHT REMAINED ONSO THE PLT REFERRED TO THE MINIMUM EQUIP'T LIST WHICH REQUIRED THAT THE AIRSTAIR BE VISUALLY CHECKED CLOSED PRIOR TO FLTIF THE WARNING SYSTEM WAS INOP. DURING TAXI/TAKEOFF THE AIRSTAIR HANDLE MOVED LEADING TO AIRSTAIR OPENING ABOUT 1 FT INFLIGHT. ALL WATER WAS SHUT OFF IN THE REAR OF THE ACFT TO AVOID POSSIBLE ICE BUILD-UP & THE FLT CONTINUED TO DENVER. UPON LANDING AS THE ACFT SLOWED ON THE RWY, THE AIRSTAIR OPENED TO THE FULL DOWN POSITION. THE EXTERNAL AIRSTAIR HANDLE WAS FOUND IN THE FULL UP POSITION (AIRSTAIR OPEN) AFTER LANDING. THE HANDLE CAN BE PULLED DOWN PARTIALLY (NOT LOCKED) & THE AIRSTAIR WILL HAVE THE APPEARANCE OF BEING UP & LOCKED ALTHOUGH THE UPLOCKS ARE NOT ENGAGED. RESIDUAL HYDRAULIC PRESSURE COULD KEEP THE AIRSTAIR IN THE CLOSED POSITION LONG ENOUGH TO GIVE A FALSE LOCKED INDICATION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N88709](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N88709-2013-06-14), registration cancelled 2013-06-14, S/N 19800, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 727-224
- Registry model: [Boeing 727-224](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-727-224) (registry code 1384076) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney JT8D-1](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-jt8d-1) (registry code 52044, turbo-jet) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 19800
- Engines: P&W JT8D turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Continental Airlines, Inc.
- Registered owner: Continental Airlines, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: ORD, CHICAGO, IL
- Flight plan: VFR/IFR
- Airport: DEN, Stapleton, runway 35R, 12,000 × 200 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, unknown; seat: left

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Lowest ceiling: none

## Other investigations on N88709 (2)

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 LAX89IA315](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX89IA315), Aug 10, 1989: Boeing 727-224 (N88709), Los Angeles, CA, incident, minor damage. Probable cause: A FATIGUE CRACK IN THE RIGHT GEAR WHEEL WELL.
- [NTSB LAX71AL040](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX71AL040), Dec 16, 1970: Boeing 727 (N88709), Burbank, CA, substantial 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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