# NTSB FTW86IA078: Mcdonnell Douglas DC-10-10, N109AA, Dallas/Ftw Apt, TX, May 7, 1986

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · Minor injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: May 7, 1986, 08:58 local (13:58 UTC)
- Place: Dallas/Ftw Apt, TX
- Location: 32.8972° N, 97.0377° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at DALLAS-FORT WORTH INTL (DFW), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8972&lon=-97.0377&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 4 minor, 270 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 21976
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW86IA078
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/21976/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW86IA078

## Sequence of events

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

- Fire, standing - starting engine(s)
  - ignition system,ignition harness - arcing (contributing factor)
  - starting procedure - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - ignition system,igniter plug - inoperative (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE CREW STATED THAT DURING AN ATTEMPTED START THE NO. 1 ENG FAILED TO GAIN IGNITION DURING THE PRESCRIBED 25 SEC LIMIT AND THAT THEY ABORTED THE START. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, GRND PERS REPORTED THAT THE ENG HAD DEVELOPED A TAIL PIPE FIRE. FOLLOWING EMERG PROCEDURES, THE FIRE PERSISTED AND THE CAPT ORDERED THE ACFT EVACUATED. FOUR PAX RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE 'B' IGN SYS WAS INOP AND PLACARDED AS SUCH AND THAT THE 'A' SYS WAS FUNCTIONING NORMALLY. EXAMINATION REVEALED A SHORT IN THE 'B' SYS HARNESS BETWEEN THE EXCITER AND THE ING PLUG. FOLLOWING REPLACEMENT OF THE 'B' HARNESS, BOTH IGN SYS AND THE ENGINE PERFORMED NORMALLY. THE TAIL PIPE FIRE COULD BE LIT OFF FOLLOWING AN ATTEMPTED START ON THE 'B' SYS, WITH A SUBSEQUENT SECOND START OR SWITCH OVER TO THE 'A' SYS WITHOUT PURGING THE ENG OF THE INITIAL START FUEL. EITHER SEQUENCE WOULD RESULT IN TORCHING.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N109AA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N109AA-1995-10-13), registration cancelled 1995-10-13, S/N 46509 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MCDONNELL DOUGLAS DC-10-10
- Registry model: [Mcdonnell Douglas DC-10-10](https://openairdocs.org/model/mcdonnell-douglas-dc-10-10) (registry code 3022110) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 46509
- Engines: GE CF6-6D 39300 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 121
- Registered owner: American Airlines
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Destination: LGA, NEW YORK CITY, NY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: DFW, Dfw Intl. Arpt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 18,000 total, 120 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 170° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,800 ft overcast
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: DFW

## 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 19860507026059I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860507026059I), May 7, 1986: Doug DC1010, Dallas Fort Wor, TX. Engine developed a tailpipe fire during pushback. Injuries during evacuation. Short found in ignition harness.

## Other investigations on N109AA (3)

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.

- [NTSB BFO90FA017](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO90FA017), Jan 2, 1990: Douglas DC-10 (N109AA), Baltimore, MD, no damage. Probable cause: INJURIES ASSOCIATED WITH THE EVACUATION OF THE AIRCRAFT.
- [NTSB DEN81FA065](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN81FA065), Sep 7, 1981: Douglas DC-10 (N109AA), Salt Lake City, UT, no damage, 1 fatal
- [NTSB NYC76AN028](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC76AN028), Aug 25, 1975: Douglas DC-10 (N109AA), Jamaica, NY, substantial damage

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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