# NTSB FTW89IA067: Boeing 727-232, N511DA, Greenville, TX, March 14, 1989

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · Minor injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: March 14, 1989, 09:12 local (15:12 UTC)
- Place: Greenville, TX
- Coordinates: 33.189849, -96.109138 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1898&lon=-96.1091&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 7 minor, 91 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 26, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22799
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW89IA067
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22799/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW89IA067

## Probable cause

FALSE FIRE WARNING, WHICH RESULTED FROM (1) CONTAMINANTS ON HARDWARE AT ONE END OF THE FIRE DETECTION LOOP; AND (2) AN ELECTRICAL SHORT ON BOTH ELEMENTS OF THE LOOP.

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise - normal
  - fire warning system,powerplant - shorted (cause)
  - fire warning system,powerplant - contamination (cause)
  - fire warning system,powerplant - false indication (cause)
  - fire extinguishing equipment - selected, pilot in command
  - evacuation - performed, pilot in command

## Analysis

ACFT MADE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING AFTER GETTING A FIRE WARNING INDICATION IN THE #2 ENG. INITIALLY THE INDICATIONS, BOTH THE FIRE WARNING LIGHT AND BELL, WERE INTERMITTENT; HOWEVER, THEY THEN WENT TO STEADY AND THE CREW SECURED THE ENG AND DISCHARGED BOTH FIRE BOTTLES WITH NO EFFECT. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THERE HAD NOT BEEN A FIRE OR OVER TEMP CONDITION AND THAT THE ENGINE FIRE DETECTION LOOP WAS SHORTED OUT ON BOTH ELEMENTS. CONTAMINANTS WERE FOUND ON THE CONNECTORS AND PINS OF ONE END OF THE LOOP DURING INITIAL INSP. AFTER HANDLING AND SHIPMENT TO THE OPERATOR'S MAINTENANCE FACILITY, THE SHORT DISAPPEARED AND COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. LOOP MET ALL MANUFACTURERING SPECIFICATIONS AND FUNCTIONED NORMALLY DURING ALL TESTING. CONTAMINANTS APPEARED TO BE ENGINE OIL AND HYDRAULIC FLUID. NO DETERMINATION WAS MADE ABOUT HOW OR WHEN THE CONTAMINANTS WERE INTRODUCED TO THE HERMETICALLY SEALED CONNECTORS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N511DA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N511DA-2012-06-13), registration cancelled 2012-06-13, S/N 21313, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 727-232
- Registry model: [Boeing 727-232](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-727-232) (registry code 1384082) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney JT8D-9 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-jt8d-9-series) (registry code 52048, turbo-jet) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 21313
- Airframe hours: 35431
- Engines: P&W JT8D-15 15500 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Registered owner: Delta Air Lines
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, March 12, 1989, 12 hours before
- Departed: ATL, ATLANTA, GA
- Destination: SAN, SAN DIEGO, CA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: GVT, Majors Fld, runway 17, 8,029 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 13,361 total, 7,980 in this make and model, 125 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 14 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: GVT

## 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 19890314025039I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890314025039I), Mar 14, 1989: Boeing 727232, Greenville, TX. NR2 engine fire warning on. Shut engine down. Fire bottles used. Found no fire but a defective fire loop.

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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