# NTSB FTW88IA141: Boeing 737-300, N14336, Kenton, DE, July 26, 1988

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: July 26, 1988, 19:08 local (23:08 UTC)
- Place: Kenton, DE
- Coordinates: 39.229736, -75.670989 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2297&lon=-75.6710&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 50 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 20, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22576
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW88IA141
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22576/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW88IA141

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, descent - normal
  - flight into known adverse weather - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - thunderstorm (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, descent - normal
  - 1 engine
  - powerplant - other (cause)
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, descent
  - powerplant - overtemperature

## Analysis

A FLAMEOUT OF THE #1 ENGINE OCCURRED DUE TO WATER INGESTION WHEN THE AIRCRAFT PENETRATED A VIP LEVEL 5 THUNDERSTORM AND ENCOUNTERED HEAVY RAIN WHILE DESCENDING WITH THE THROTTLES A FLIGHT IDLE. THE ENGINE SUFFERED OVERTEMPERATURE DAMAGE TO THE TURBINE SECTION DURING THE SUBSEQUENT WINDMILLING START. THE CAPTAIN ELECTED TO DESCEND IN PRECIPITATION WITH THE ENGINES AT IDLE, DESPITE THE COPILOT'S WARNING THAT IDLE DESCENT WAS CONTRARY TO RECENTLY PUBLISHED PROCEDURES WHICH REQUIRED MAINTAINING A MINIMUM OF 45% N1 RPM. THE PRECIPITATION INDUCED FLAMEOUT PHENOMENA HAD BEEN IDENTIFIED IN PREVIOUS INCIDENTS, AND CORRECTIVE PROCEDURES WERE ISSUED BY THE FAA, THE MANUFACTURERS, AND THE CARRIER, PRIOR TO THIS OCCURRENCE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N14336](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N14336-2013-03-21), registration cancelled 2013-03-21, S/N 23574, built 1987 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 737-300
- Registry model: [Boeing 737-3TO](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-737-3to) (registry code 138447G) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [CFM International CFM56 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/cfm-international-cfm56-series) (registry code 13802, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 23574
- Airframe hours: 5420
- Engines: GE CFM-56-3 20000 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Registered owner: Continental Airlines
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Departed: MMUN, CANCUN
- Destination: EWR, NEWARK, NJ
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: ILG

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; airline transport, flight engineer, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 8,100 total, 1,120 in this make and model, 5,600 as pilot in command, 162 in the last 90 days, 66 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19880726040979I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880726040979I), Jul 26, 1988: Boeing 737300, Wilmington, DE. Engine flamed out in heavy rain in thunderstorm and was overtempted trying restart. Used flight idle in heavy rain.

## Other investigations on N14336 (1)

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 FTW95IA053](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95IA053), Nov 26, 1994: Boeing B-737-300 (N14336), Houston, TX, incident, minor damage. Probable cause: THE FAILURE OF MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL TO FOLLOW THE TAXI CHECKLIST RESULTING IN THE HYDRAULIC PUMPS NOT BEING TURNED ON.

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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