- Date
- September 23, 1992, 09:22 local (16:22 UTC)
- Place
- San Francisco, CA
- Injuries
- 235 uninjured
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N1845UMcdonnell Douglas DC 10-10
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 28, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19920923041929I
- Case key
- 27462
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the incident.
On this page
Probable cause
A fractured compressor assembly.
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
A Mcdonnell Douglas aircraft company DC 10 series 10 aircraft experienced an uncontained failure of the number 1 engine while in the cruise climb. The engine had sustained an uncontained failure of the 14th through 16th stage compressor spool. About 11 years before the incident, the spool was damaged beyond maintenance manual limits. The damage consisted of a 360 degree rub on the aft rim surface (surface q) of the 16th stage compressor. The spool was placed in storage for five years and then returned to service after being repaired. Flight profile stresses were analyzed by engine manufacturer. According to the engine manufacturer, peak stresses in the aft rim region or surface q occur at the same time in the flight profile as the uncontained failure.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1845U
- Reported as
- Mcdonnell Douglas DC 10-10
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 48261
- Airframe hours
- 36,958
- Engine
- GE CF6-6D, 40,000 lbs thrust, turbo fan
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Fire
- In-Flight
- Flight
- Part 121
- Operator
- United Airlines
- Registered owner
- Security Pacific National Bank
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Transport
- Last inspection
- AAIP · August 5, 1992 · 490 hours before
- Destination
- KOA · Kona, HI
- Flight plan
- IFR
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 57
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 18,977 total · 6,692 in this make and model · 9,033 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 310° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 61 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- SFO, 20 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.