- Date
- March 4, 1994, 14:50 local (20:50 UTC)
- Place
- Dfw Airport, TX
- Injuries
- 56 uninjured
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Aircraft
- N253ATAerospatiale ATR-72
- Weather
- Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 14, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 18938
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
The blocked numer 1 engine drain manifold.
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
While taxiing, the number one engine fire warning light illuminated. The pilot and co-pilot initiated an engine shutdown and completed appropriate emergency procedures. An examination of the aircraft revealed that the no. 1 engine manifold was blocked with coking deposits resulting in fuel spill and subsequent fire within the nacelle.
Factual narrative
On March 4, 1994 at 1450 central standard time, an Aerospatiale ATR-72, N253AT, operating as American Eagle flight 3740, experienced an engine cowling fire while taxiing at the DFW Airport, Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas. The four crew members and 52 passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the intended 14 CFR Part 121 flight.
In the Pilot/Operator report, the pilot stated that the number one engine fire warning light illuminated. He further stated that he and the co-pilot performed the emergency checklist and then evacuated the passengers out of the rear door of the aircraft.
The fire was suppressed by the crew using the published emergency procedures.
A detailed examination of the aircraft by the operator revealed that the No. 1 engine drain manifold was blocked with "coking" deposits. The operator also stated that "internal pressure caused a fuel spill inside the nacelle with resultant fire."
Aircraft
- Registration
- N253AT
- Reported as
- Aerospatiale ATR-72
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 253
- Engine
- P&W PW127, 2,700 horsepower, turbo prop
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Part 121
- Operator
- Simmons Airlines, doing business as American Eagle
- Registered owner
- Gpa Atr II Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Transport
- Departed
- SHV · Shreveport, LA
- Destination
- DFW · TX
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- DFW · Dallas/Fort Worth
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 45
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 10,000 total · 480 in this make and model · 185 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Day