# NTSB NYC87IA087: Boeing 737-200, N409PE, Newark, NJ, January 4, 1987

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · Minor injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: January 3, 1987, 23:15 local (Jan 4, 1987, 06:15 UTC)
- Place: Newark, NJ
- Location: 40.6925° N, 74.1687° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at NEWARK LIBERTY INTL (EWR), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6925&lon=-74.1687&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 10 minor, 98 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 10, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 30525
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC87IA087
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/30525/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC87IA087

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, landing - roll
  - fire warning system - false indication (cause)
  - auxiliary power unit - inoperative (cause)
  - apu - not maintained, company maintenance personnel
  - improper use of procedure, company maintenance personnel
  - inadequate surveillance of operation, company/operator mgmt
- Miscellaneous/other, other
  - crew/group coordination - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

DURING DESCENT PRIOR TO THE APPROACH TO NEWARK, NJ THE B737 CREW ATTEMPTED TO START THE APU. THE APU FAILED TO START. DURING LNDG ROLL ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO START THE APU RESULTED IN A FIRE WARNING LIGHT. THE FIRE BOTTLE WAS DISCHARGED BUT THE FIRE WARNING REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CAPT ORDERED AN EVACUATION WHILE PARKED ON A TAXIWAY. SOME PASSENGERS EXITED THRU THE OVERWING EXIT ON THEIR OWN. SOME OF THESE PASSENGERS WERE INJURED GETTING OFF ON THE WING. INSPECTION OF THE APU REVEALED NO FIRE DAMAGE. POST ACC TEST RESULTS SHOWED THAT THE UNIT HAD TURBINE BLADES BURNED AND ERODED, FUEL CONTROL CRACKING PRESSURE SET HIGHER THAN SPECIFIED, AND THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS WIRES TO THE FUEL SOLENOID CONNECTOR WERE REVERSED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N409PE (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 737-200
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 19026
- Airframe hours: 45500
- Engines: P&W JT8D-7B 14500 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Registered owner: Peoples Express
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport; Standard, Normal
- Departed: ORF, NORFOLK, VA
- Destination: EWR, NEWARK, NJ
- Flight plan: VFR/IFR
- Airport: EWR, Newark, runway 4R, 9,800 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 4,956 total, 2,370 in this make and model, 3,392 as pilot in command, 190 in the last 90 days, 65 in the last 30 days, 9 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright

## 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 19870103005749I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870103005749I), Jan 3, 1987: Boeing 737130, New York, NY. APU fire warning light illuminated during taxi after landing. The aircraft was evacuated. No APU defects noted.

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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