- Date
- April 16, 1985, 11:37 local (18:37 UTC)
- Place
- Las Cruces, NM
- Injuries
- 89 uninjured
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N718AABoeing 727-227
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19850416045829I
- Case key
- 24560
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the incident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
While cruising at flt level 350 in clear smooth air, a loud noise was heard, accompanied by a severe jolt on the right side of the cabin, as the number 3 end separated from its mounts. Subsequent investigation disclosed that the forward lavatory was leaking deodorant fluid and water. Deodorant stains existed along the right side of the fuselage, & were subsequently identified on the number 3 engine nose cowl & inlet nose cone. All but 6 of the first stage fan blades were recovered at the eng impact site, & these 6 blades were located within a 180 degree segment of the fan. Leakage of the lavatory waste drain valve was the result of a damaged 'o' ring seal. Leakage of the dump valve was the result of disbonding of a rubber boot on its shaft.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N718AA
- Reported as
- Boeing 727-227
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 20611
- Airframe hours
- 36,704
- Engine
- P&W JT8D-9A, 14,500 lbs thrust, turbo fan
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Part 121
- Registered owner
- American Airlines, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Transport
- Last inspection
- AAIP · April 15, 1985 · 5 hours before
- Departed
- DFW · Dallas-Ft Worth, TX
- Destination
- SAN · San Diego, CA
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- LRU · Las Cruces
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 49
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 12,470 total · 6,762 in this make and model · 124 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 230° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 60 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 12,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 82 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- DMN, 30 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.