# NTSB FTW95IA053: Boeing B-737-300, N14336, Houston, TX, November 26, 1994 - Type: NTSB incident investigation - Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report - Date: November 26, 1994, 11:02 local (17:02 UTC) - Place: Houston, TX - Coordinates: 29.76057, -95.379623 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7606&lon=-95.3796&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 134 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 29, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19261 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW95IA053 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19261/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95IA053 ## Probable cause THE FAILURE OF MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL TO FOLLOW THE TAXI CHECKLIST RESULTING IN THE HYDRAULIC PUMPS NOT BEING TURNED ON. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, standing - starting engine(s) - object - aircraft moving on ground - hydraulic system,pump - not engaged (cause) - checklist - not followed, company maintenance personnel (cause) ## Analysis TWO MECHANICS WERE REPOSITIONING A BOEING 737-200, N11244, TO CONTINENTAL DEPARTURE GATE 41. THE LEFT SEAT MECHANIC DID NOT UTILIZE THE MECHANIC TAXI CHECKLIST. THIS MECHANIC SUBSEQUENTLY REPORTED DIFFICULTY IN NOSE WHEEL STEERING AND BRAKING. THE RIGHT SEAT MECHANIC OFFERED TO CALL MAINTENANCE; HOWEVER, THE OTHER MECHANIC DECLINED THE OFFER. AT THE TIME, FLIGHT 1176, A BOEING 737-300, N14336, FROM GATE 44 WAS UNDER CONTROL OF THE PUSHBACK TEAM. THE CREW OF THE PUSHBACK AIRPLANE AND WITNESSES REPORTED THE REPOSITIONING AIRPLANE ENGINES WERE AT 'A VERY HIGH POWER SETTING' AND 'TAXIING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED.' THE RIGHT WING OF AIRPLANE N11244 WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED WHEN IT HIT THE LEFT OUTBOARD FLAP AREA OF N14336. THE HYDRAULIC SYSTEMS FOR THE NOSE WHEEL STEERING, THE MAIN WHEEL STEERING, THE MAIN WHEEL BRAKES, AND THE THRUST REVERSERS WERE FUNCTIONALLY TESTED AND FOUND OPERATIONAL. ## Factual narrative On November 26, 1994, at 1102 central standard time, a Boeing 737-300, N14336, Continental Airlines Flight 1176, received minor damage during a ground collision at the Intercontinental Airport, Houston, Texas. The crew of 6 and 128 passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the scheduled Title 14 CFR Part 121 flight to Chicago, Illinois. Two mechanics were repositioning a Boeing 737-200, N11244, to Continental departure gate 41. Simultaneously, Flight 1176, a Boeing 737-300, from gate 44 was under the control of the pushback team consisting of a tug driver and a wingwalker. The right wing of N11244 contacted the left outboard flap, cockpit crew, in the process of starting engine #1, felt the impact, aborted the engine start, and looked aft from the cockpit window. The passengers were deplaned out of the right forward door utilizing portable stairs. During interviews, conducted by the investigator-in-charge and the operator, with the left seat (lead) mechanic, the following information was revealed. The mechanic taxi checklist was not utilized. He was unable to verify by discussion the "ON" position of the cockpit hydraulic pump switches for the Boeing 737-200 versus the 737-300, which are not in the same sequence in the cockpit. He reported difficulty in nose wheel steering and braking with N11244. During interviews, conducted by the investigator-in-charge and the operator, with the right seat mechanic, the following information was revealed. He offered to call maintenance following an indication by the left seat mechanic of a nose wheel steering problem; however, that mechanic declined the offer. On the enclosed statements the crew and witnesses stated that the repositioning aircraft engines were at "a very high power setting" and "taxing at a high rate of speed." The hydraulic systems (enclosed report) for the nose wheel steering, the main wheel steering, the main wheel brakes, and the thrust reversers were functionally tested. It was determined by the test that 5 brake applications were available from the accumulator of the "A" hydraulic system and that 6 brake applications were available from the accumulator of the "B" hydraulic system. The nose wheel steering, the thrust reversers, and the main landing gear brakes functioned. Toxicological findings, initiated by the operator, for the mechanics and ground crew were negative. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N14336](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N14336-2013-03-21), registration cancelled 2013-03-21, S/N 23574, built 1987 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BOEING B-737-300 - Registry model: [Boeing 737-3TO](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-737-3to) (registry code 138447G) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [CFM International CFM56 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/cfm-international-cfm56-series) (registry code 13802, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 23574 - Airframe hours: 26118 - Engines: CFM 56 20000 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: Continental Airlines, Inc. - Registered owner: State Street Bank And Trust - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, November 26, 1994, 0 hours before - Destination: ORD, CHICAGO, IL - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: IAH, Houston Intercontinental ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 20,000 total, 8,000 in this make and model, 15,000 as pilot in command, 210 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 7 knots - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: IAH ## 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 19941126046999I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941126046999I), Nov 26, 1994: Boeing 7373T0, Houston, TX, Minor damage. After push back was struck by an aircraft being taxied by mechanic. No brakes due hydraulics not turned on. ## Other investigations on N14336 (1) 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. - [NTSB FTW88IA141](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW88IA141), Jul 26, 1988: Boeing 737-300 (N14336), Kenton, DE, incident, minor damage 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.