# NTSB LAX91IA376: Boeing 767-232, N115DA, Los Angeles, CA, August 29, 1991

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: August 29, 1991, 13:17 local (20:17 UTC)
- Place: Los Angeles, CA
- Location: 33.9445° N, 118.3908° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from LOS ANGELES INTL (LAX), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9445&lon=-118.3908&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 120 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 31, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27034
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX91IA376
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27034/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX91IA376

## Probable cause

THE FRACTURE OF THE NUMBER 1 HIGH PRESSURE TURBINE WHEEL DUE TO FATIGUE, FROM AN UNDETERMINED ORIGIN.

## 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, takeoff - roll/run
  - 1 engine
  - turbine assembly,turbine wheel - fatigue (cause)
  - turbine assembly,turbine wheel - fractured (cause)
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)

## Analysis

DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, A BOEING 767-232, EXPERIENCED AN UNCONTAINED FAILURE OF THE NUMBER 1 ENGINE HIGH PRESSURE TURBINE WHEEL. PORTIONS OF THE TURBINE DISK EXITED THE ENGINE CASE, PRODUCING A 4-INCH BY 16-INCH RUPTURE.  PIECES OF THE DISK AND THE 2ND STAGE NOZZLE WERE FRAGMENTED AND PRODUCED SHRAPNEL LIKE PROJECTILES THAT PIERCED THE ENGINE CORE COWLING AND SURROUNDING ENGINE PYLON MOUNT. THE FIRST OFFICER, FLYING THE AIRPLANE, ABORTED AND THE TAKEOFF AND RETURNED TO THE DEPARTURE GATE. EXAMINATION OF THE DISK DISCLOSED THAT IT FRACTURED DUE TO FATIGUE FROM AN UNDETERMINED ORIGIN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N115DA (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 767-232
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 22227
- Airframe hours: 24956
- Engines: GE CF6-80A2 48670 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Delta Airlines, Inc.
- Registered owner: Delta Airlines, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, January 2, 2000
- Destination: EWR, NEWARK, NJ
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: LAX, Los Angeles, runway 25, 12,091 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; airline transport, flight engineer; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 18,700 total, 1,500 in this make and model, 200 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: LAX, 1 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 19910829042099I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910829042099I), Aug 29, 1991: Boeing 767232, Los Angeles, CA, Minor damage. Right engine compressor stall and fire warning on takeoff. Fired bottle. Aborted uncontained engine failure.

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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