# NTSB NYC08LA062: Boeing B747-433BCF, New York, NY, December 14, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 14, 2007, 00:00 local (05:00 UTC) - Place: New York, NY - Coordinates: 40.658332, -73.786666 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6583&lon=-73.7867&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 5 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 30, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: New York International Field Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 67263 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC08LA062 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67263/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=67263 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC08LA062 ## Probable cause (aircraft 2) The infringement of the parked EMB-190 into the airport movement area, and the B-747 crew's failure to maintain separation between the airplanes in conditions of darkness. Contributing to the accident was the contaminated ramp, which obscured airport markings. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Collision between aircraft (other than midair), taxi - from landing - clearance - not maintained, flightcrew (cause) - light condition - night - distance - misjudged, flightcrew - Collision between aircraft (other than midair), standing - engine(s) not operating - airport snow removal - inadequate, airport personnel (contributing factor) - light condition - night - distance - misjudged, flightcrew (cause) ## Analysis (aircraft 2) The passenger airline's EMB-190 was operated on a positioning flight, and landed at its destination in night instrument meteorological conditions. Due to ramp space limitations, the flight crew was instructed by company personnel to temporarily park on a cargo ramp that was unfamiliar to them. They taxied to the designated ramp, and were advised that a marshalling crew would be sent out as soon as one was available, but that they could expect a significant delay. The ramp markings were at least partially obscured due to several hours of freezing precipitation earlier in the day. The crew shut down the engines, but kept the cabin, navigation, beacon and logo lights illuminated. Shortly thereafter, a B-747 cargo airplane on an active taxiway attempted to pass behind the parked EMB-190. The B-747 crew noticed that the EMB-190 was "very close to the taxiway," and deviated approximately 12 feet from the taxiway centerline to avoid contacting the EMB-190. The B-747 crew believed that they had successfully cleared the EMB-190, but after they parked their airplane, they were advised that the right winglet of the B-747 struck the EMB-190 rudder, separated from the wing, and remained embedded in the other airplane. Subsequent to the accident, it was determined that the tail of the EMB-190 extended approximately 50 feet beyond the demarcation line of the non-movement area. The B-747 could have deviated further from the taxiway centerline to avoid the EMB-190 and still retain a 15 to 20 foot wheel clearance from the taxiway edge. ## Factual narrative (aircraft 2) HISTORY OF FLIGHT On December 14, 2007, about 0000 eastern standard time, the right winglet of a taxiing Boeing 747-433BCF, B-2477, contacted the rudder of a stationary EMB-190, N184JB, at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), New York, New York. The all-cargo B-747 was operating as Air China flight 1065 from Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC), Anchorage, Alaska, and the EMB-190 was operating as JetBlue flight 5104, a non-revenue positioning flight from Nashville International Airport (BNA), Nashville, Tennessee. The EMB-190 was substantially damaged, and the B-747 received minor damage. No persons on the airplanes or on the ground were injured. Night instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The B-747 was operated under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 129, and the EMB-190 was operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. According to JetBlue documents, the EMB-190 departed BNA on December 13, 2007 about 2057, and landed on JFK runway 4R about 2257. The only two occupants were the captain and the first officer. Due to ramp space limitations, the crew could not taxi to their final parking location immediately after landing, and they were instructed by company operations personnel to park temporarily in another location. When they were parked at the first location, the crew was instructed to move the airplane to a second interim location known as Hangar 3. The crew was unfamiliar with the newly assigned location. After receiving further instructions from the company operations personnel, and in coordination with air traffic control, they parked the airplane on the cargo ramp that was situated on the southeast side of taxiway Charlie Bravo (CB) and on the northeast side of Hangar 3, with the airplane facing southeast. Slush and snow covered the ramp and ramp markings. The crew left one engine running in anticipation of moving to the final parking location. After an unspecified time, they started the auxiliary power unit (APU) and shut down the engine. The crew kept the cabin, navigation, beacon and logo lights illuminated. About 0000, the EMB-190 crew felt a "violent impact," and noticed a B-747 taxiing northeast behind them on taxiway CB. The EMB-190 crew surmised that their airplane had been struck by the B-747, and they informed their company of the collision. After the B-747 passed, they observed it stop on the taxiway, connect to a tug, and then get towed further along the taxiway. JetBlue maintenance personnel responding to the notification confirmed that there had been a collision; the right winglet of the B-747 remained embedded in the rudder of the EMB-190. According to the right-seat captain of the B-747, they landed uneventfully about 2346, and while taxiing on taxiway CB, they noticed the EMB-190 "very close to the taxiway." The captain assigned a third flight crewmember to observe the right wing while the captain and first officer attempted to taxi past the EMB-190. The third crewmember told the operating crew that the B-747 had cleared the EMB-190, and the airplane continued to its assigned parking location. The captain reported that they shut down the airplane in its parking spot about 0017. After shutdown, the B-747 crew was notified by JetBlue ground personnel that the B-747 had struck the EMB-190. DAMAGE TO AIRPLANES The EMB-190 rudder contained a cut at the 1/3 span location which was approximately 3 inches wide, and which extended almost completely chordwise through the rudder. A small portion of the vertical stabilizer skin, an access panel, and a web were bent and buckled. The majority of the right winglet of the B-747 was fracture-separated from the wing, and remained lodged in the EMB rudder. PERSONNEL INFORMATION B747 Crew According to Air China documentation, the B-747 operating flight crew consisted of two captains and a first officer. The two captains held Air Transport Pilot Licenses issued by the Civil Aviation Administration of China, People's Republic of China. No other details were provided by Air China. EMB-190 Captain The EMB-190 captain held commercial and airline transport rating certificates, and his type ratings included the EMB-190. His most recent first-class Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) medical certificate was issued in September 2007, and his most recent flight review was completed in November 2007. He reported 8,300 total hours of flight experience, including 889 in the EMB-190. EMB-190 First Officer The EMB-190 first officer held commercial and airline transport rating certificates, and his type ratings included the EMB-190. His most recent second-class FAA medical certificate was issued in January 2007, and his most recent flight review was completed in November 2007. He reported 707 total hours of flight experience in the EMB-190, and FAA records indicated that he had approximately 5,000 total hours of flight experience. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION The JetBlue EMB-190 Flight Crew Operating Manual indicated that the airplane was 118 feet and 11 inches in length. The impact point on the rudder was approximately 8 feet forward of the aft end of the fuselage, and approximately 100 feet aft of the cockpit. The wingspan of the B-747 was 213 feet, and the winglets were approximately 150 feet aft of the cockpit. The B-747 wing main landing gear wheelbase was 36 feet. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION According to JFK recorded weather information, on the day of the accident, precipitation was first reported in the 1053 observation, and was reported in the eight subsequent observations, the last of which was at 1916. The precipitation was variously reported as light ice pellets, light snow pellets, heavy rain, and light freezing rain. The 2351 surface weather observation at JFK reported winds from 020 degrees at 4 knots, 9 miles visibility, overcast skies at 800 feet, temperature 0 degrees C, dew point minus 2 degrees C, and an altimeter setting of 30.05 inches of mercury. COMMUNICATIONS Despite requests, no communications between the airplanes and the ground controllers were provided to the National Transportation Safety Board. AIRPORT INFORMATION The collision occurred while the B-747 was on taxiway CB, which was 75 feet wide. The EMB-190 was parked mostly, but not completely, in the "non-movement area" ramp southeast of taxiway CB. "Non-movement areas" are portions of the airport that are not subject to air traffic control. Paragraph 38d of FAA Advisory Circular (AC) 150/5340-1J specified that non-movement area demarcation markings consist of two 6-inch wide yellow lines, one solid and one dashed, which are separated by 6 inches. The AC also "strongly encouraged" the doubling of the line widths and spacing to 12 inches "at locations having difficulty discerning the location of the movement area." The subject non-movement demarcation line was located approximately 140 feet southeast of the taxiway CB centerline. The subject demarcation lines were 12 inches wide, and spaced 12 inches apart. Photographs indicate that the only lighting for the ramp in the vicinity of the EMB-190 was mounted on the northeast wall of Hangar 3, and projected across the ramp to the northeast. The light location and EMB-190 orientation combined to place the lights on the right side of the EMB-190, with the light projecting right to left, perpendicular to the airplane's longitudinal axis. The collision location was located approximately 6,300 feet from the air traffic control tower, and a controller's view of the EMB-190 would have been completely, or nearly completely, obscured by buildings. FLIGHT RECORDERS Although both airplanes were equipped with flight data and cockpit voice recorders, no recorded data was recovered for this investigation. Initially, the recorders were removed from the EMB-190, but since the airplane was parked at the time of the event, ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: B-2477 (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: BOEING B747-433BCF - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24998 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 129 - Operator: Air China Airlines - Registered owner: Air China Airlines - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Departed: ANC, Anchorage, AK - Destination: JFK, New York, NY - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: JFK, John F. Kennedy International ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N184JB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N184JB), registered now, S/N 19000008, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: EMBRAER EMB-190 - Registry model: [Embraer ERJ 190-100 IGW](https://openairdocs.org/model/embraer-erj-190-100-igw) (registry code 3260408) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 19000008 - Airframe hours: 5486 - Engines: General Electric CF34-10E 18500 lbs thrust turbo fan; General Electric CF34-10E 18500 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Operator: JetBlue Airways, doing business as JetBlue - Registered owner: Wells Fargo Bank Northwest NA Trustee - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, December 13, 2007 - Departed: BNA, Nashville, TN - Destination: JFK, New York, NY - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: JFK, John F. Kennedy International ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft 1; age 58; injuries: none; airline transport; seat: left - Co-pilot, aircraft 1; age 43; injuries: none; airline transport; seat: right - Pilot, aircraft N184JB; age 37; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 14, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 8,300 total, 889 in this make and model, 2,988 as pilot in command - Co-pilot, aircraft N184JB; age 33; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 10, 2007; seat: right; flight hours: 707 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night - Wind: 20° at 4 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 800 ft overcast - Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: JFK ## Docket (8 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 6, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=67263. 1.9 MB in all. - JetBlue - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 743 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40314367&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=JetBlue%20-%20Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - JFK Operations Log (item 2, .PDF, 96 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40314368&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=JFK%20Operations%20Log-Master.PDF - JetBlue Crew Statements (item 3, .PDF, 24 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40314369&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=JetBlue%20Crew%20Statements-Master.PDF - Air China Captain's Statement (item 4, .PDF, 134 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40314370&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Air%20China%20Captain%27s%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Accident Diagrams (item 5, .PDF, 465 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40314372&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Diagrams-Master.PDF - Annotated Pictures (New York Port Authority) (item 6, .PDF, 259 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40314373&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Annotated%20Pictures%20(New%20York%20Port%20Authority)-Master.PDF - JetBlue Airport Briefing Guide (item 7, .PDF, 170 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40314425&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=JetBlue%20Airport%20Briefing%20Guide-Redacted.PDF - Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 8, .PDF, 58 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40314429&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-Redacted.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.