# NTSB NYC92LA076: Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-32, N926L, Dayton, OH, April 9, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 8, 1992, 21:06 local (Apr 9, 1992, 01:06 UTC)
- Place: Dayton, OH
- Coordinates: 39.869251, -84.189529 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.8693&lon=-84.1895&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 28 uninjured; on the ground: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 11, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 37140
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC92LA076
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37140/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC92LA076

## Probable cause

A FAILED WHEEL RIM FOLLOWING AN INADVERTENT OVER INFLATION BY THE MECHANIC.  ADDITIONAL CAUSES WERE THE FAILURE OF THE MECHANIC TO BE AWARE OF THE PRESSURE BEING USED AND HIS FAILURE TO FOLLOW PROCEDURES.  A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FAILURE OF THE COMPANY TO MAKE AVAILABLE LOW PRESSURE REGULATORS FOR THEIR MECHANICS DURING NORMAL WORK HOURS.

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, standing
  - maintenance,replacement - improper, other maintenance personnel (cause)
  - aircraft/equipment inadequate, company/operator management (contributing factor)
  - procedures/directives - not followed, other maintenance personnel (cause)
  - landing gear,tire - pressure excessive (cause)
  - landing gear,wheel - failure,total (cause)

## Analysis

THE LEFT SIDE NOSE WHEEL TIRE WAS DAMAGED DURING PUSHBACK, WHEN THE TOW BAR FAILED.  THE TIRE WAS REPLACED AND WHILE BEING SERVICED ON THE AIRPLANE, THE TIRE RIM FAILED, FATALLY INJURING THE MECHANIC.  EXAMINATION OF THE BOTTLE USED TO SERVICE THE TIRE SHOWED TWO PRESSURE SCALES, BARS ON THE OUTSIDE AND PSI ON THE INSIDE.  ONE BAR EQUALS 14.7 PSI.  THE HIGH END OF THE SCALE WAS 10,000 PSI AND THE BOTTLE WAS PRESSURIZED TO 4000 PSI. THE TIRE WAS TO BE SERVICED TO 150 PSI.  A CHECK OF THE REGULATOR AFTER THE ACCIDENT DISCLOSED IT WAS PROPERLY CALIBRATED.  ACCORDING TO THE FAA, THE TIRE RIM WAS STRESSED TO 580 PSI.  EXAMINATION OF THE FRACTURE SURFACE FOUND, 'NO...MANUFACTURING OR MATERIAL DEFECTS...FRACTURE SURFACE IS CONSISTENT WITH A TENSILE OVERLOAD TYPE OF FAILURE.'  ACCORDING TO THE COMPANY, NO LOW PRESSURE REGULATORS WERE AVAILABLE.  THEY ARE KEPT UNDER LOCK WHEN NOT IN USE AND THE RESPONSIBLE PERSON HAD ALREADY GONE HOME FOR THE DAY.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N926L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N926L-2013-08-23), registration cancelled 2013-08-23, S/N 47172, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MCDONNELL DOUGLAS DC-9-32
- Registry model: [Douglas DC-9-32](https://openairdocs.org/model/douglas-dc-9-32) (registry code 3022066) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney JT8D-9 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-jt8d-9-series) (registry code 52048, turbo-jet) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 47172
- Engines: P&W JT8D-9A 14500 lbs thrust turbo jet
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Trans World Airlines
- Registered owner: Polaris Aircraft Leasing Corp
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Unknown, January 2, 2000
- Destination: STL, ST. LOUIS, MO
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: DAY, Dayton Intl

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 15,933 total, 1,046 in this make and model, 1,500 as pilot in command, 121 in the last 90 days, 63 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright
- Wind: 260° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 9,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: DAY, 1 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 19920408010539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920408010539A), Apr 8, 1992: Doug DC932, Dayton, OH, Minor damage, 1 fatal. Mechanic over pressurized nose tire. Outer wheel half blew off fatally injuring mechanic. Improper procedure used.

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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