# NTSB FTW84IA400: McDonnell Douglas DC-10-10, N124AA, Dfw Airport, TX, September 15, 1984

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: September 15, 1984, 13:05 local (18:05 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: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 21165
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW84IA400
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/21165/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW84IA400

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, descent
  - flight control,slat attachment - improper (cause)
  - maintenance,installation - improper, company maintenance personnel (cause)
  - flight control,slat attachment - failure,total (cause)
  - flight control,slat - separation

## Analysis

THE ACFT EXPERIENCED SEPN OF THE RGT WING #3 LEADING EDGE SLAT WHILE DESCENDING FOR AN APCH. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT ON 7/5/84, THE COMPANY PERFORMED A 'C' CHECK INSPECTION OF THE ACFT. AT THIS TIME A RGT WING #3 LEADING EDGE SLAT RETRACT ALUMINUM PULLEY, P/N 1969-132, WAS REPLACED WITH A PHENOLIC PULLEY, P/N 1969-172. THE DC-10 PARTS ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE SPECIFIES THAT AN ALUMINUM PULLEY BE INSTALLED ON THE #3 LEADING EDGE SLAT RATHER THAN THE PHENOLIC PULLEY BECAUSE FLT LOADS ON THE #3 SLAT EXCEEDED THE DESIGN LOAD OF THE PHENOLIC PULLEY. METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION OF THE FAILED PULLEY & CABLE INDICATED EVIDENCE OF AN OVERLOAD FAILURE. INSPECTION OF OTHER COMPANY DC-10'S REVEALED AT LEAST 3 OTHER ACFT HAD PHENOLIC PULLEYS INSTALLED IN THE #3 SLAT POSITION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N124AA (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: McDonnell Douglas DC-10-10
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 46524
- Airframe hours: 34557
- Engines: GE CF6 turbo fan
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Ferry, Part 91
- Registered owner: American Airlines Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: AAIP, September 15, 1984, 1 hours before
- Departed: TUL, TULSA, OK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: DRW, Dfw Regional

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: unknown, unknown; seat: left; flight hours: 16,000 total, 14,500 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 40° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: DFW

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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