# NTSB MIA90IA070: Boeing 727-225A, N8889Z, Sarasota, FL, February 13, 1990

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: February 12, 1990, 23:30 local (Feb 13, 1990, 04:30 UTC)
- Place: Sarasota, FL
- Location: 27.3383° N, 82.5437° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Sarasota, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.3383&lon=-82.5437&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 150 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 30, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32578
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA90IA070
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32578/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA90IA070

## Probable cause

IMPROPER SERVICING OF THE FORWARD LAVATORY BY CONTRACT SERVICE PERSONNEL.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, cruise
  - compressor assembly,blade - failure,partial
  - fluid,lavatory - leak (contributing factor)
  - maintenance,service of aircraft/equipment - improper, other maintenance personnel (cause)

## Analysis

THE CREW OF THE BOEING 727 SHUT DOWN THE NO 3 ENGINE DUE TO SEVERE VIBRATIONS. SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION REVEALED MASSIVE DAMAGE TO THE BLADES OF THE LPC. THE FORWARD LAVATORY HAD BEEN SERVICED BEFORE THE FLIGHT AND THE INTERIOR DONUT SEAL WAS MISSING. THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE AIRPLANE WAS COVERED WITH BLUE FLUID.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8889Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8889Z-2006-11-08), registration cancelled 2006-11-08, S/N 21858, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 727-225A
- Registry model: [Boeing 727-225](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-727-225) (registry code 1384077) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 889-21858
- Airframe hours: 28887
- Engines: P&W JT-8D-15 15500 lbs thrust turbo jet
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Registered owner: Eastern Airlines
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, June 5, 1989
- Departed: ATL, ATLANTA, GA
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 5,217 total, 1,713 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 350° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SRQ, 25 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 19900212013759I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900212013759I), Feb 12, 1990: Boeing 727225, Sarasota - Brad, FL, Minor damage. Noise and vibration from NR3 engine. Shutdown and landed. Suspect blue ice ingestion from forward lavatory leak.

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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