# NTSB FTW94IA198: Aerospatiale ATR-72-212, N632AS, Caddo, OK, June 17, 1994

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: June 17, 1994, 11:55 local (16:55 UTC)
- Place: Caddo, OK
- Coordinates: 34.13055, -96.259536 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1305&lon=-96.2595&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 37 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 14, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 18941
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW94IA198
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18941/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW94IA198

## Probable cause

THE FUEL NOZZLE DRAIN LEAK DUE TO A DEFECTIVE O-RING.

## Sequence of events

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

- Fire, cruise - normal
  - fuel system,drain - leak (cause)
  - emergency procedure - performed, pilot in command
- Loss of engine power, descent - emergency

## Analysis

THE FIRE WARNING LIGHT FOR THE LEFT ENGINE ILLUMINATED WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT 16,000 FEET. THE CREW SECURED THE ENGINE AND A FIRE BOTTLE WAS DISCHARGED. THE CREW REQUESTED AND RECEIVED PRIORITY HANDLING FROM ATC AND LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. DAMAGE TO THE AIRPLANE WAS CONFINED TO FIRE DAMAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE COWLING. THE FIRE WAS THE RESULT OF A DETERIORATED O-RING ON THE NUMBER SIX FUEL NOZZLE DRAIN COLLECTOR TUBE.

## Factual narrative

On June 17, 1994, at 1155 central daylight time, an Aerospatiale ATR 72-212, N632AS, sustained minor damage while in cruise flight near Caddo, Oklahoma.  There were no injuries to the 33 passengers and the 4 crewmembers aboard the airplane.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 CFR Part 121 flight.

The airplane was operated by Atlantic Southeast Airlines as ASA Flight 7605, on an instrument flight plan between Tulsa, Oklahoma, and DFW International Airport, Texas.  According to the operator, the airplane was in cruise flight at 16,000 feet  when the fire warning light for the left engine illuminated.  The crew activated the onboard fire suppression system and secured the affected engine.

The captain advised ATC of the situation and continued inbound to DFW, requesting priority handling.  The airplane landed without further incident at 1236, and the passengers were deplaned by normal means.

Inspection of the left engine revealed fire damage that was confined to the bottom of the engine cowling.  Further inspection revealed evidence of a fuel leak originating at the fuel nozzle drain collector for the left engine.

According to the operator, the O-ring (part number MS-9388-009) for the number six fuel nozzle transfer tube was defective.  Total time on the defective O-ring was reported as 339 hours.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N632AS (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: AEROSPATIALE ATR-72-212 (ATR 72-212)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 338
- Airframe hours: 2574
- Engines: P&W 127 2750 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Minor damage
- Fire: In-Flight
- Flight: Part 121
- Registered owner: Atlantic Southeast Airlines
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, June 1, 1994, 132 hours before
- Departed: TUL, TULSA, OK
- Destination: DFW, DFW AIRPORT, TX
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; flight engineer, commercial, flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 14,500 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 13,500 as pilot in command, 240 in the last 90 days, 75 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 19940617022979I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940617022979I), Jun 17, 1994: Aerosp ATR72202, Dallas-Ft Worth, TX, Minor damage. Fire warning left engine. Emergency proceedures. Found fuel nozzle leaking, fuel puddle in cowl. Cowling scorched.

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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