# NTSB DEN90IA154: Aerospatiale A-300B4, N72990, Denver, CO, July 4, 1990

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: July 4, 1990, 11:31 local (17:31 UTC)
- Place: Denver, CO
- Coordinates: 39.760643, -104.919273 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7606&lon=-104.9193&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 218 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 8, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17852
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN90IA154
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17852/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN90IA154

## Probable cause

ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO TURBINE WHEEL FAILURE, INDUCED BY FATIGUE.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, takeoff - roll/run
  - turbine assembly,turbine wheel - failure,total (cause)
  - aborted takeoff - performed, pilot in command
  - turbine assembly,turbine wheel - fatigue (cause)
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, takeoff - aborted
  - landing gear,normal brake system - failure,partial
  - landing gear,tire - burst

## Analysis

THE CAPTAIN OF CONTINENTAL AIRLINES FLIGHT 1232, AN A300B4 AIRBUS, EN ROUTE FROM DENVER TO HOUSTON, ABORTED THE TAKEOFF AT STAPLETON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AFTER A CATASROPHIC UNCONTAINED FAILURE OF THE LEFT ENGINE PRIOR TO THE AIRPLANE REACHING V1. THE AIRPLANE WAS BROOUGHT TO A STOP ON THE RUNWAY. TWO TIRES BLEW OUT; SIX TIRES DEFLATED WHEN THE FUSE PLUGS MELTED. ONE BRAKE DID NOT ATTAIN MAXIMUM BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS. A SEGMENT OF THE FIRST STAGE HIGH PRESSURE TURBINE ROTOR DISK SEPARATED. METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION DISCLOSED A PREEXISTING FATIGUE CRACK.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N72990 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: AEROSPATIALE A-300B4 (A300B4)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 259
- Airframe hours: 19653
- Engines: GE CF6-50C2 51400 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Continental Airlines, Inc.
- Registered owner: Eal (Delaware) V11 Corp.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, July 1, 1990, 22 hours before
- Departed: DEN
- Destination: IAH, HOUSTON, TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: DEN, Stapleton Int'L, runway 35R, 12,000 × 200 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 18,700 total, 317 in this make and model, 189 in the last 90 days, 88 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 70° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: DEN

## 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 19900704042919I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900704042919I), Jul 4, 1990: Airbus A300B4103, Denver, CO, Minor damage. NR1 engine fire warning on takeoff. Aborted. Tires blew on stopping. High pressure turbine wheel separated.

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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