# NTSB NYC89IA005: Boeing 727-100, N118FE, Newark, NJ, October 7, 1988

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: October 6, 1988, 23:55 local (Oct 7, 1988, 03:55 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: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 11, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36302
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC89IA005
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36302/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC89IA005

## 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, takeoff - aborted
  - compressor assembly,wheel retention - fatigue (cause)
  - compressor assembly,wheel retention - failure,total
  - aborted takeoff - initiated, pilot in command
  - 1 engine - failure,total

## Analysis

THE #3 ENG SUFFERED AN UNCONTAINED TURBINE BLADE FAILURE DURING A TAKEOFF ROLL. THE TAKEOFF WAS ABORTED AT 120 KTS WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT ALL 12 TIERODS FOR THE 2ND STAGE LOW COMPRESSOR SUFFERED A PROGESSIVE FAILURE. THIS RESULTED IN THE UNCOUPLING OF THE FAN SECTION, IMBALANCE IN THE 3,4,5, & 6 STAGES, UNCOUPLING OF THE LOW POWER TURBINE AND FINALLY, OVERSPEED & OVERHEAT OF THE TURBINE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N118FE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N118FE-2002-10-31), registration cancelled 2002-10-31, S/N 19300, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 727-100
- Registry model: [Boeing 727-25C](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-727-25c) (registry code 138400H) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney JT8D-1](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-jt8d-1) (registry code 52044, turbo-jet) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 19300
- Engines: P&W JT8D-7 14500 horsepower turbo jet
- Damage: Minor damage
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Federal Express, doing business as Federal Express Corporation
- Registered owner: Federal Express
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Departed: EWR, NEWARK, NJ
- Destination: MEMPHIS, TN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: EWR, Newark Int'L, runway 4L, 7,460 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 8,000 total, 429 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark

## 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 19881006044679I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881006044679I), Oct 6, 1988: Boeing 72725C, Newark, NJ, Minor damage. Aborted takeoff due to uncontained failure of NR4 turbine wheel of NR3 engine. Engine and cowling replaced.

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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