# NTSB DEN91IA028: Boeing 727-22, N40486, Denver, CO, December 20, 1990

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: December 19, 1990, 20:02 local (Dec 20, 1990, 03:02 UTC)
- Place: Denver, CO
- Coordinates: 38.810798, -104.710716 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8108&lon=-104.7107&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 125 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 30, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 18040
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN91IA028
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18040/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN91IA028

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF AN ENGINE BEARING.

## 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
  - engine assembly,bearing - failure,total (cause)

## Analysis

SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, AS THE AIRCRAFT WAS CLIMBING THROUGH 800 FEET AGL, THE NUMBER ONE ENGINE FAILED. THE CAPTAIN SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE AND ELECTED TO CONTINUE FLIGHT TO DENVER WHERE HE LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT. ENGINE DISASSEMBLY REVEALED BEARING FAILURE DUE TO A CRACK IN THE NUMBER SIX BEARING OUTER RACE. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF TURBINE FAILURE. UNCONTAINED PENETRATION OCURRED AT THE 2:30, 5:30, AND 6:30 POSITIONS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N40486](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N40486-1996-11-15), registration cancelled 1996-11-15, S/N 18848 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 727-22
- Registry model: [Boeing 727-22](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-727-22) (registry code 1384002) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18848
- Engines: P&W JT8D-7 14000 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Continental Airlines
- Departed: COS, COLORADO SPRING, CO
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 13,700 total, 3,800 in this make and model, 10,900 as pilot in command, 120 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 110° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,400 ft overcast
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Observed at: COS, 10 nm away

## 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 19901219065899I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19901219065899I), Dec 19, 1990: Boeing 72722, Colorado Spring, CO, Minor damage. NR1 engine failed after takeoff. Secured engine and continued to denver. Turbine damaged to 2 stages.

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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