- Date
- January 15, 1993, 00:15 local (06:15 UTC)
- Place
- Dfw Airport, TX
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N8041UMcdonnell Douglas DC8-55
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report December 3, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 18678
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the incident.
On this page
Probable cause
Failure of an engine turbine wheel for undetermined reasons.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
During the initial climb following a takeoff the airplane experienced a catastrophic (uncontained) failure of the number four engine. The airplane returned to its departure point and landed safely. An examination of the engine revealed that a turbine disc had failed. During the uncontained failure the airplane sustained minor damage to the control surfaces.
Factual narrative
On January 15, 1993, at 0015 central standard time, a McDonnell Douglas DC8-55, N8041U, sustained a catastrophic engine failure to the number four engine while climbing following takeoff from Dallas Ft Worth (DFW) International Airport, Texas. None of the three man crew sustained injuries, however, the airplane did sustain minor damage. Weather was visual meteorological conditions. The airplane was owned and operated by Zantop International, Ypsilanti, Michigan.
Following the loss of power to the number four engine the airplane returned to DFW, where an inspection was performed. The inspection was observed by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector. The inspection revealed that when the engine failed it propelled pieces aft, resulting in the control surfaces sustaining damage. Following the removal of the engine and subsequent teardown it was determined that a turbine wheel had failed.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8041U
- Reported as
- Mcdonnell Douglas DC8-55
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 45675
- Airframe hours
- 52,455
- Engine
- P&W JT3D-3B, 18,000 lbs thrust, turbo jet
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Part 121
- Operator
- Zantop International
- Registered owner
- Zantop International
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Transport
- Last inspection
- Continuous airworthiness · November 23, 1992 · 116 hours before
- Destination
- YIP · Ypsilanti, MI
- Flight plan
- IFR
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 45
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 16,750 total · 190 in this make and model · 12,815 as pilot in command · 49 in the last 90 days · 35 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 120° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 5,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 46 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg