# NTSB NYC89IA176: Douglas DC-9-30, N556NY, Newark, NJ, July 26, 1989

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: July 25, 1989, 20:15 local (Jul 26, 1989, 00:15 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: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 89 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 26, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36312
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC89IA176
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36312/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC89IA176

## Probable cause

RUPTURE OF A FLEXIBLE HIGH PRESSURE HYDRAULIC LINE IN THE 'A' HYDRAULIC SYSTEM, DUE TO CHAFING OF THE STEEL BRAID COVERING, WHICH ALLOWED THE SYSTEM PRESSURE AND QUANTITY TO BE COMPLETELY DEPLETED.

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, descent - normal
  - hydraulic system - failure,total (cause)
  - maintenance,replacement - not performed, company maintenance personnel (cause)
  - information unavailable, company maintenance personnel (contributing factor)
  - hydraulic system,line - burst (contributing factor)
  - fluid,hydraulic - exhaustion (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - landing gear,anti-skid brake system - disabled (contributing factor)
  - landing gear,tire - failure,total (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE CREW OF CONTINENTAL AIRLINES FLIGHT 354 EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF THE LEFT HYDRAULIC SYSTEM AND STARTED TO LOSE HYDRAULIC QUANTITY FROM THE RIGHT SYSTEM. ANTICIPATING A LOSS OF BOTH SYSTEMS, THE CREW SHUT DOWN BOTH PUMPS AND MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING AT NEWARK INTL AIRPORT, NJ. THE LANDING WAS NORMAL UNTIL AT 80 KNOTS AIRSPEED, THEN THE LEFT TIRES BLEW OUT. THE AIRCRAFT THEN SWERVED TO THE LEFT AND CAME TO A HALT 30 FT LEFT OF THE RUNWAY CENTERLINE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N556NY (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: DOUGLAS DC-9-30
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 47423
- Airframe hours: 46652
- Engines: P&W JT8D 14000 horsepower turbo jet
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Continental Airlines
- Registered owner: Texas Air Leasing Corp.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, July 24, 1989
- Departed: ORD, CHICAGO, IL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: EWR, Newark, runway 22L, 9,300 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 12,000 total, 900 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 260° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 79 °F

## 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 19890725041569I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890725041569I), Jul 25, 1989: Doug DC932, Newark, NJ, Minor damage. NR1 hydraulic system failure. Landed using manual brakes. Tires failed. Flex line failed and o ring bad.

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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