# NTSB LAX85IA206: Boeing 727-227, N718AA, Las Cruces, NM, April 16, 1985

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: April 16, 1985, 11:37 local (18:37 UTC)
- Place: Las Cruces, NM
- Coordinates: 32.219577, -106.989898 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.2196&lon=-106.9899&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 89 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 24560
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX85IA206
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24560/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX85IA206

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise - normal
  - water and waste system - leak (cause)
  - maintenance,service bulletin/letter - not issued, manufacturer (contributing factor)
  - insufficient standards/requirements,manufacturer, manufacturer (contributing factor)
  - fluid,water - frozen (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - temperature extremes (contributing factor)
- Engine tearaway, cruise - normal
  - engine assembly - separation (contributing factor)
  - engine installation,suspension mounts - overload (contributing factor)

## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N718AA-2013-03-26), registration cancelled 2013-03-26, S/N 20611, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 727-227
- Registry model: [Boeing 727-227](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-727-227) (registry code 1384078) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 20611
- Airframe hours: 36704
- Engines: P&W JT8D-9A 14500 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

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 19850416045829I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850416045829I), Apr 16, 1985: Boeing 727227, Deming, NM, Minor damage. Engine separated from aircraft due to blue ice ingestion in flight. Faulty lavatory dump valve.

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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