# NTSB FTW93IA067: Mcdonnell Douglas DC8-55, N8041U, Dfw Airport, TX, January 15, 1993

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: January 15, 1993, 00:15 local (06:15 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 December 3, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 18678
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW93IA067
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18678/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW93IA067

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF AN ENGINE TURBINE WHEEL FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, climb - to cruise
  - 1 engine
  - turbine assembly,turbine wheel - failure,total (cause)

## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8041U-2016-12-27), registration cancelled 2016-12-27, S/N 45675, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MCDONNELL DOUGLAS DC8-55
- Registry model: [Douglas DC-8F-54](https://openairdocs.org/model/douglas-dc-8f-54) (registry code 3021926) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney JT3D-3&3B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-jt3d-3-3b) (registry code 52039, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 45675
- Airframe hours: 52455
- Engines: P&W JT3D-3B 18000 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

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; 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

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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