# NTSB FTW93IA125: Boeing 747-269BC, Alexandria, LA, April 12, 1993

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: April 12, 1993, 09:54 local (14:54 UTC)
- Place: Alexandria, LA
- Location: 31.2934° N, 92.4702° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Alexandria, LA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.2934&lon=-92.4702&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 40 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 26, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 18847
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW93IA125
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18847/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW93IA125

## Probable cause

THE INFLIGHT DELAMINATION OF THE WING PANEL SKIN. FACTORS WERE THE WATER CONTAMINATION OF THE HONEYCOMB PANEL.

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, climb - to cruise
  - wing,skin - delamination (cause)
  - wing,skin - separation
  - precautionary landing - performed, pilot in command
  - wing,skin - contamination (contributing factor)

## Analysis

A SLIGHT VIBRATION WAS FELT AS THE AIRPLANE WAS CLIMBING THROUGH FL310 FOR AN ASSIGNED ALTITUDE OF FL390 DURING A DOMESTIC IFR CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. A PASSENGER SEATED ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE AIRPLANE OBSERVED PORTIONS OF THE SKIN ON A NON-STRUCTURAL WING PANEL ON THE LEFT WING PEELING OFF AND SEPARATING FROM THE WING AND INFORMED A CREWMENBER OF THE CONDITION. A PRECAUTINARY LANDING WAS MADE WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE REVEALED THAT A SECTION, 48 INCHES WIDE BY 31 INCHES LONG, HAD SEPARATED FROM THE TRAILING EDGE OF THE FIXED TRAILING EDGE UPPER PANEL ON THE LEFT WING. ADDITIONALLY, A THREE INCH PORTION OF THE TRAILING EDGE ON THE LEFT FORE FLAP PANEL WAS ALSO DAMAGED, AND SEPARATED FROM THE AIRPLANE. ACCORDING TO MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL CONTRACTED BY THE OPERATOR, THE DELAMINATION OF THE HONYCOMB PANEL WAS THE RESULT OF WATER CONTAMINATION.

## Factual narrative

On April 12, 1993, at approximately 0954 central daylight time, a Boeing 747-269BC, Kuwait registration 9KADD, operating as Kuwait  Airlines Flight 091, sustained minor damage when a non structural panel on the left wing became delaminated while the airplane was  climbing through FL 310, approximately 25 miles south of          Alexandria, Louisiana.

There were no injuries to the 24 passengers, 6 flight             crewmenbers, and 10 flight attendants aboard. The airplane        departed Ellington Field (EFD) near Houston, Texas, at            approximately 0921, enroute to Andrews Air Force Base,            Maryland. A passenger seated on the left side of the              airplane observed portions of the skin on a wing panel on the     left wing peeling off and informed a crewmember of the condition.

The airplane was diverted to the Houston Intercontinental Airport (IAH), in Houston, Texas, where a uneventful landing was made at  1028, with airport emergency equipment standing by.

According to the operator, a slight vibration was felt on the     left side of the airplane after part of the skin departed the     airplane. Physical examination of the airplane revealed that a    section (48 inches wide by 31 inches long), separated from the    trailing edge of the fixed trailing edge upper panel (part number 65B22845 33) on the left wing. There was evidence of              delamination, working rivets, and rows of rivets pulled through   the skin on the remaining fiberglass laminated honeycomb panel.   Additionally, a 3 inch portion of the trailing edge on the left   wing fore flap panel, was also damaged and separated from the     aircraft. There was no other damage to the airplane.

According to maintenance personnel returning the airplane to      service, the delamination of the honeycomb panel was the result   of water contamination.

## Aircraft

- Registration: 9KADD (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 747-269BC
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: P&W JT9D-7A turbo jet
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 129
- Registered owner: Kuwait Airways Corp.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Departed: EFD, HOUSTON, TX
- Destination: ADW, CAMP SPRINGS, MD
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: expired; seat: left; flight hours: 10,000 total, 9,000 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 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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