# NTSB LAX00LA223: Airbus Industrie A320-232, N655AW, Las Vegas, NV, June 12, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 12, 2000, 13:14 local (20:14 UTC) - Place: Las Vegas, NV - Coordinates: 36.250885, -115.040824 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.2509&lon=-115.0408&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 152 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 21, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49421 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX00LA223 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49421/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA223 ## Probable cause The failure of the mechanic to refasten the cowling door prior to returning the aircraft to service. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Miscellaneous/other, takeoff - light condition - night - nacelle/pylon - door - not secured - procedures/directives - not complied with, company maintenance personnel (cause) ## Analysis During takeoff, as the airplane accelerated through takeoff rotation speed (Vr), the outboard, forward cowl door on the left (number 1) engine separated from the engine nacelle and struck the horizontal stabilizer. The pilot reported there had been an abnormal vibration as the aircraft accelerated through Vr. Several passengers pressed their flight attendant call buttons and alerted the flight attendants who, in turn, reported the cowling separation to the cockpit crew. The return for landing at the departure airport was unremarkable. The cowl door over-center type latches on the inboard door were found latched, however, the hooks were intact and undamaged. Similarly, the latch receptacles on the outboard door were visibly undamaged. The latches were painted red. An "RON-check" (Remain Over Night) had been performed during hours of darkness the previous night, which required that the cowling doors be opened. In the morning, the aircraft was handed over from the maintenance graveyard shift to the day shift. Maintenance items remained to be completed in areas of the aircraft other than the number 1 engine. The takeoff where the cowling separated was the first flight following return to service. ## Factual narrative On June 12, 2000, at 1314 hours Pacific daylight time, an Airbus A320-232, N655AW, was substantially damaged when the engine cowling separated and struck the horizontal stabilizer during takeoff at McCarran International Airport, Las Vegas, Nevada. The airline transport certificated pilot, the second pilot, 3 flight attendants and 147 passengers were not injured. The aircraft was operated by America West Airlines, Inc., under 14 CFR Part 121 as flight 2747, a regularly scheduled domestic passenger flight, destined for Columbus, Ohio. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and the flight was operating on an instrument flight plan. According to the operator, the pilot reported there had been an abnormal vibration as the aircraft accelerated through takeoff rotation speed (Vr). Several passengers pressed their flight attendant call buttons and alerted the flight attendants who, in turn, reported the cowling separation to the cockpit crew. The return for landing at the departure airport at 1331 was unremarkable. The aircraft was taxied to the terminal gate and the passengers deplaned normally. Postflight inspection revealed that the outboard, forward cowl door on the left (number 1) engine had separated from the engine nacelle. There was a 10-inch cut through the landing gear (strut) door and there were 3 holes in the lower surface of the left horizontal stabilizer, each approximately 2 inches wide and 8 inches long. The cowling door hold-open rod penetrated the lower skin and aft spar web of the horizontal stabilizer. No damage was observed on the wing or wing flap. The opposite (inboard) cowl door and the "bull nose," where the two doors hinge at the 12 o'clock position, were damaged but remained attached to the nacelle. The cowl door over-center type latches on the inboard door were found latched, however, the hooks were intact and undamaged. Similarly, the latch receptacles on the outboard door were visibly undamaged. The latches were painted red. The operator reported that the aircraft remained overnight in Las Vegas and an "RON-check" (Remain Over Night) had been performed during hours of darkness. The RON-check required that the cowling doors be opened; however, the mechanic performing the work reported that the cowl doors were closed and re-latched about 0530 - 0600 during hours of daylight. In the morning, the aircraft was handed over from the maintenance graveyard shift to the day shift. Maintenance items remained to be completed in areas of the aircraft other than the number 1 engine. The takeoff where the cowling separated was the first flight following return to service. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N655AW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N655AW), registered now, S/N 1075, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Airbus Industrie A320-232 - Registry model: [Airbus Industrie A320-232](https://openairdocs.org/model/airbus-industrie-a320-232) (registry code 3930326) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [IAE V2500SERIES](https://openairdocs.org/engine/iae-v2500series) (registry code 34601, turbo-jet) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1075 - Airframe hours: 3012 - Engines: Int'l Aero En V-2527-A5 27000 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 121 - Registered owner: America West Airlines, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: AAIP, May 1, 1999, 3,012 hours before - Departed: LAS - Destination: CMH, COLUMBUS, OH - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: LAS, Mccarran International, runway 25R, 14,505 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 20,300 total, 8,000 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 203 °F, dew point 109 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: LAS ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20000612012069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000612012069A), Jun 12, 2000: Airbus A320232, Las Vegas, NV, No damage. (-23) 6/12/00 At 1310 hours PDT, an Airbus A320-232, N655AW, was substantially damaged when the engine cowling separated and struck the horizontal stabilizer… 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.