# NTSB LAX98IA061: McDonnell Douglas MD-80, N932AS, San Francisco, CA, December 20, 1997

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: December 19, 1997, 18:15 local (Dec 20, 1997, 02:15 UTC)
- Place: San Francisco, CA
- Coordinates: 37.559085, -122.369087 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.5591&lon=-122.3691&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 75 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 4, 1998
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 29963
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX98IA061
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29963/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98IA061

## Probable cause

An emergency evacuation due to fumes from a failed hydraulic line that entered into the cabin.

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, taxi - from landing
  - hydraulic system,line - failure (cause)
  - hydraulic system,line - fumes (contributing factor)
- Miscellaneous/other, standing - engine(s) not operating
  - evacuation - performed, pilot in command

## Analysis

The captain ordered an emergency evacuation after noxious fumes and mist entered the aircraft during the taxi to the gate after landing.  Examination of the aircraft found the source of the vapors as a failed hydraulic return line from the left-hand engine thrust reverser.  Leaking fluid from the line was ingested into the aircraft's APU which had been started in accordance with normal procedures.

## Factual narrative

On December 19, 1997, at 1815 hours Pacific standard time, the crew of an Alaska Airlines MD-80, N932AS, operating as Flight 536 from Palm Springs, California, to San Francisco, California, under 14 CFR Part 121, ordered an emergency evacuation after experiencing noxious fumes entering the aircraft.  Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time.  There was no damage to the aircraft and no injuries to the 5 crewmembers or to the 69 passengers.

According to the operator, the aircraft was taxiing to the gate after landing when fumes and mist began to enter the cabin through the air conditioning ducts.  Although first noted as thin, the vapors quickly filled the cabin, reducing visibility, and causing respiratory distress along with burning eyes to crew and passengers.  The crew elected to stop the aircraft on the taxiway near the intersection of "A" and "H" taxiways.  The captain ordered an immediate evacuation over the aircraft's public address system.  The crew estimated the evacuation was accomplished within 90 seconds.

After the evacuation, the flight attendants commented on having to divest passengers of carry-on baggage during the evacuation.  A concern was that the baggage taken from the passengers could block the path to the exit(s).  All flight attendants commented on how useful they found their flashlights to be.  All retrieved their flashlights before proceeding to the exits and found them to be invaluable during the evacuation, as well as on the ground.

Subsequent investigation revealed the source of the vapors as a failed hydraulic return line from the left-hand engine thrust reverser.  Leaking fluid from the line was ingested into the aircraft's APU that had been started by the flight crew after landing in accordance with normal procedures.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N932AS (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: McDonnell Douglas MD-80
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Registered owner: Alaska Airlines
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Departed: PSP, PALM SPRINGS, CA
- Destination: SFO
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: SFO, San Francisco

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 7,000 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 200° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 52 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SFO

## 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 19971219041499I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971219041499I), Dec 19, 1997: Doug DC982, San Francisco, CA. Hydraulic accumulator line broke turning off runway. Emergency evacuation initiated. J fitting in tail broke.

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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