# NTSB DFW05LA047: Bombardier CL-600-2C10, N506MJ, Austin, TX, December 29, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 29, 2004, 13:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Austin, TX - Coordinates: 30.201944, -97.666664 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2019&lon=-97.6667&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/800) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 59 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 8, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: San Antonio FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 60783 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW05LA047 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60783/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW05LA047 ## Probable cause The failure of an air conditioning pack, which resulted in a haze filling the cabin. A contributing factor was the failure of the passenger to follow evacuation instructions. ## Analysis During the takeoff roll, both flight attendants observed a haze in the cabin. As the airplane rotated and began to climb, the haze thickened. At approximately 500 feet above ground level (agl), the smoke detector in the rear lavatory sounded, the "smoke toilet" message was displayed in the cockpit, and a strong odor of smoke was present. The captain declared an emergency and returned to the airport. According to a statement provided by the flight attendants, after a safe and uneventful landing, the captain ordered an emergency evacuation utilizing the airplane's four exits. A passenger exited the airplane through a window exit and fractured a bone in her right foot. Company maintenance personnel examined the airplane and "found that an air conditioning pack that had failed," which would have resulted in a haze in the cabin. ## Factual narrative On December 29, 2004, about 1330 central standard time, a Bombardier CL-600-2C10 twin turbo-jet airplane, N506MJ, operated as United Express Flight 7210, by Mesa Airlines, Inc., of Phoenix, Arizona, performed an emergency evacuation after landing at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS), near Austin, Texas. The two airline transport rated pilots, two flight attendants, and 55 passengers were not injured. One passenger sustained a serious injury. The airplane was not damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules flight plan had been filed for the scheduled passenger flight conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121. The flight, which was destined for the Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), had departed AUS approximately ten minutes earlier. According to written statements provided by the flight crew and flight attendants, during the takeoff roll, both flight attendants observed a haze in the cabin. As the airplane rotated and began to climb, the haze thickened. At approximately 500 feet above ground level (agl), the smoke detector in the rear lavatory sounded, the "smoke toilet" message was displayed in the cockpit, and a strong odor of smoke was present. The captain declared an emergency and returned to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. According to a statement provided by the flight attendants, after a safe and uneventful landing, the captain ordered an emergency evacuation utilizing the airplane's four exits. The flight attendants then assisted the passengers in the emergency evacuation. One Spanish speaking passenger remained, and a flight attendant instructed her to "exit her way." Instead, the passenger exited the airplane through a window exit and fractured a bone in her right foot. Company maintenance personnel examined the airplane and "found that an air conditioning pack that had failed," which would have resulted in smoke filling the cabin. The Liebherr Air Cycle Machine, part number GG670-95009-1 was replaced, and a maintenance operational check was performed by maintenance technicians. No further evidence of smoke was observed in the cabin. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Miscellaneous/other, other - air cond/heating/pressurization,freon system - failure (cause) - evacuation - not complied with, passenger (contributing factor) ## Aircraft - Registration: N506MJ (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Bombardier CL-600-2C10 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 10073 - Engines: General Electric CF34-8C1 12670 lbs thrust turbo fan; General Electric CF34-8C1 12670 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: No damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: Mesa Airlines, Inc. - Registered owner: Wells Fargo Bank NW - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Departed: AUS, Austin, TX - Destination: IAD, Washington, DC - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: AUS, Austin-Bergstrom International, runway 17L, 9,000 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review October 1, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 5,000 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 100 in the last 90 days - Co-pilot; age 34; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review August 1, 2004; seat: right; flight hours: 2,100 total, 160 in this make and model, 160 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.26 inHg - Observed at: AUS ## 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 20041229033409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20041229033409A), Dec 29, 2004: Cndair CL6002C10, Austin, TX. (-23) Skywest (america west connector) flight 7210 on December 29, 2004, departed Austin-Bergstrom for Washington dulles (iad) at 1305 CST. On climb out at… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.