# NTSB NYC90FA038: Boeing 727-31, N727PJ, Newark, NJ, December 9, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 8, 1989, 22:10 local (Dec 9, 1989, 03:10 UTC)
- Place: Newark, NJ
- Location: 40.7242° N, 74.1726° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Newark, NJ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7242&lon=-74.1726&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 7 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 7, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36517
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC90FA038
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36517/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC90FA038

## Probable cause

THERMAL DISTRESS OF THE FIRST STAGE TURBINE BLADES OF THE NUBER ONE ENGINE CAUSING A DEGRADATION OF MATERIAL PROPERTIES WHICH RESULTED IN BLADE FRACTURES. THE REASON FOR THE THERMAL DISTRESS WAS NOT DETERMINED.

## 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 - normal
  - 1 engine
  - turbine assembly,turbine blade - overtemperature (cause)
  - turbine assembly,turbine blade - fractured (cause)

## Analysis

AT FLIGHT LEVEL 370 THE CREW HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION-TYPE NOISE. THE #1 ENGINE SHOWED A POWER LOSS, AND THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO VIBRATE. THE CREW SHUT THE ENGINE DOWN, AND AN UNEVENTFUL 2-ENGINE LANDING WAS MADE AT NEWARK. AN ENGINE TURBINE BLADE WAS FOUND LODGED IN THE AIRPLANE'S VERTICAL STABILIZER. AN ENGINE TEARDOWN SHOWED THERMAL DISTRESS TO THE FIRST STAGE TURBINE BLADES CAUSING A DEGRADATION OF MATERIAL PROPERTIES RESULTING IN BLADE FRACTURES. THE CAUSE OF THE THERMAL DISTRESS WAS NOT DETERMINED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N727PJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N727PJ-1994-11-01), registration cancelled 1994-11-01, S/N 18752 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 727-31
- Registry model: [Boeing 727-31](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-727-31) (registry code 1384010) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18752
- Engines: P&W JT8D-7B 14000 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Registered owner: Private Jet Expeditions Inc
- Departed: ICT, WICHITA,, KS
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: EWR, Newark

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; airline transport, commercial, flight engineer; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 12,215 total, 2,634 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 270° at 90 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °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).

- [Accident 19891208065579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19891208065579A), Dec 8, 1989: Boeing 72731, Newark, NJ, Substantial damage. Loud noise, NR1 engine power loss. Shutdown. Landed airport. Engine turbine blade lodge in vertical stabilizer.

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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