# NTSB LAX84IA195: Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-82, N203AA, Santa Ana, CA, February 17, 1984

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: February 17, 1984, 08:46 local (16:46 UTC)
- Place: Santa Ana, CA
- Coordinates: 33.70943, -117.870216 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7094&lon=-117.8702&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 98 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 24040
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX84IA195
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24040/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX84IA195

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, climb - to cruise
  - compressor assembly,blade - fatigue (cause)
  - compressor assembly,blade - separation (cause)

## Analysis

SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF A TTL PWR LOSS WAS EXPERIENCED ON THE NUMBER 1 ENGINE. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE OCCURRED IN THE COMPRESSOR SECTION FROM STAGE 6 REARWARD. 40 STAGE 8 COMPRESSOR BLADES WERE FORCED COMPLETELY OUT OF THEIR DISK DOVETAIL SLOTS. OF THE 18 REMAINING BLADES, 17 WERE MISSING THEIR AIRFOILS WHICH HAD FRACTURED JUST ABOVE THE PLATFORM. THE 18TH BLADE WAS FRACTURED THROUGH THE ROOT AREA JUST BELOW THE PLATFORM. METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION OF THE 18TH BLADE DISCLOSED THE BLADE SUSTAINED A DIAGONAL AND TRANSVERSE FRACTURE THROUGH THE ROOT OF THR BLADE PROGRESSING IN HIGH CYCLE FATIGUE FROM THE ORIGIN ALONG THE EDGE OF THE DISK.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N203AA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N203AA-2008-05-19), registration cancelled 2008-05-19, S/N 49145, built 1983 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MCDONNELL DOUGLAS DC-9-82
- Registry model: [Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-82(MD-82)](https://openairdocs.org/model/mcdonnell-douglas-dc-9-82-md-82) (registry code 3022082) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney JT8D series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-jt8d-series) (registry code 52053, turbo-jet) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 49145
- Engines: P&W JT8D-217 20850 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Registered owner: American Airlines, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, December 29, 1983
- Departed: SNA, SANTA ANA, CA
- Destination: DFW, DALLAS, TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: SNA, John Wayne, runway 1L, 5,700 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; airline transport; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: unknown, unknown; seat: left

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 57 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SNA, 7 nm away

## 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 19840217055219I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840217055219I), Feb 17, 1984: Doug DC982, Santa Ana, CA. Number 1 engine failed during climb after takeoff. Failure occurred in the stage 8 compressor section.

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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