# NTSB FTW84IA160: Boeing 727-23, N1993, Dfw Airport, TX, March 10, 1984

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: March 10, 1984, 13:41 local (19:41 UTC)
- Place: Dfw Airport, TX
- Location: 32.8972° N, 97.0377° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of DALLAS-FORT WORTH INTL (DFW), within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8972&lon=-97.0377&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 41 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 21162
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW84IA160
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/21162/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW84IA160

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise - normal
  - fuselage,skin - fatigue (cause)
  - fuselage,skin - failure,partial (cause)
- Decompression, cruise - normal

## Analysis

THE CREW STATED THAT WHILE AT FL370, THE CABIN ALT BEGAN TO CLIMB. AN EMERGENCY DESCENT WAS INITIATED & AFTER LANDING THE PASSENGERS DEPLANED IN A NORMAL MANNER. INVESTIGATION REVEALED A 9X18' HOLE IN THE FUSELAGE ABOUT 3 FT FOWARD OF THE ACFT CARGO DOOR. METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION REVALED THAT THE CRACK HAD OCCURRED AS A RESULT OF FATIQUE WHICH ORGINATED IN SCRAPE MARKS ON THE INSIDE OF THE SKIN IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO THE ORIGIN OF THE CRACK.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N1993 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 727-23
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18449
- Airframe hours: 50208
- Engines: P&W JT-8D-7 14000 lbs thrust turbo jet
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Registered owner: American Airlines, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Departed: SAT, SAN ANTONIO, TX
- Destination: ORD, CHICAGO, IL
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 9,000 total, 4,500 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 30° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: DFW, 65 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 19840310022409I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840310022409I), Mar 10, 1984: Boeing 72723, Dallas, TX, Minor damage. Rapid decompression at cruise altitude. Found fatigue failure of the fuselage skin forward of the aft cargo door.

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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