# NTSB NYC88FA238: de Havilland DH-7-58C, N170RA, Albany, NY, September 22, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: September 21, 1988, 23:55 local (Sep 22, 1988, 03:55 UTC)
- Place: Albany, NY
- Location: 42.6657° N, 73.7984° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Albany, NY, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.6657&lon=-73.7984&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 2 minor, 12 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 24, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36016
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC88FA238
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36016/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC88FA238

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, cruise
  - 1 engine
  - turbine assembly,turbine blade - separation (cause)
  - fluid,oil - contamination (cause)
  - lubricating system,oil magnetic plug - failure,total (contributing factor)
  - warning system(other) - failure,total (cause)
  - turbine assembly,turbine blade - separation (cause)
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise
  - fuselage - penetrated

## Analysis

THE ACFT EXPERIENCED AN UNCONTAINED DISINTEGRATION OF THE NO.2 ENGINE. SCORCHED ENGINE FRAGMENTS RIPPED THROUGH THE FUSELAGE INJURING TWO PASSENGERS, ONE SERIOUSLY. THE UNCONTAINED FAILURE WAS THE RESULT OF WEAR OR SPALLING OF THE 1ST STAGE REDUCTION GEAR AND THE SUN GEARS. PROGRESSIVE CONTAMINATION ALLOWED THE FAILURE TO PROGRESS TO THE ULTIMATE UNCONTAINED FAILURE. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ULTIMATE FAILURE WAS AN INOPERATIVE MAGNETIC CHIP DETECTOR PLUG, WHICH ALLOWED THE WEAR TO PROGRESS UNDETECTED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N170RA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N170RA-1996-08-29), registration cancelled 1996-08-29, S/N 14 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: de Havilland DH-7-58C
- Registry model: [Dehavilland DHC-7-102](https://openairdocs.org/model/dehavilland-dhc-7-102) (registry code 2802708) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 14
- Airframe hours: 21061
- Engines: P&W PT6-50 1120 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Pan Am Express, doing business as Pan Am Express
- Registered owner: Pan Am Express
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, September 21, 1988, 10 hours before
- Departed: JFK, JAMAICA, NY
- Destination: ALB, ALBANY, NY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: ALB, Albany County, runway 28, 6,000 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 27; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 3,939 total, 1,589 in this make and model, 2,525 as pilot in command, 149 in the last 90 days, 69 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 270° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,700 ft overcast
- Temperature: 10 °F, dew point 10 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: ALB, 15 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).

- [Accident 19880921044939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880921044939A), Sep 21, 1988: Dhav DHC7102, Albany, NY, Substantial damage. Left engine blew up. Fragments pierced cabin injuring two passengers.

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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