# NTSB FTW94IA099: Aerospatiale ATR-72, N253AT, Dfw  Airport, TX, March 4, 1994

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: March 4, 1994, 14:50 local (20:50 UTC)
- Place: Dfw  Airport, TX
- Location: 32.8972° N, 97.0377° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at DALLAS-FORT WORTH INTL (DFW), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8972&lon=-97.0377&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 56 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 14, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 18938
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW94IA099
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18938/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW94IA099

## Probable cause

THE BLOCKED NUMER 1 ENGINE DRAIN MANIFOLD.

## Sequence of events

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

- Fire, taxi - from landing
  - fuel system,drain - blocked(total) (cause)

## 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 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: AEROSPATIALE ATR-72
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 253
- Engines: P&W PW127 2700 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.

- Pilot; age 45; 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

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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