# NTSB NYC95IA192: Boeing 747-130, N603FF, Jamaica, NY, August 14, 1995

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: August 14, 1995, 19:50 local (23:50 UTC)
- Place: Jamaica, NY
- Coordinates: 40.649192, -73.789421 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6492&lon=-73.7894&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 436 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 3, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 38877
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC95IA192
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38877/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC95IA192

## Probable cause

failure and separation of the #1 engine turbine shroud assembly, which resulted in an uncontained engine failure, a puncture of the #2 outboard reserve fuel tank plate, and a fuel leak.

## 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, climb - to cruise
  - turbine assembly,shroud - failure (cause)
  - turbine assembly,shroud - separation (cause)
  - fuel system,tank - penetrated (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - leak (cause)

## Analysis

The flight had reached an altitude of 14,000 feet mean sea level (MSL), when the crew reported a severe vibration in the number 1 engine. The crew shut down the engine, declared an emergency, and returned to the airport. After landing, the airplane was taxied to the gate without evacuating the passengers. Examination of the engine revealed that a turbine shroud had separated and penetrated the turbine exhaust case at the 6 to 9 o'clock position, exited the cowling, and punctured the #2 outboard reserve fuel tank plate. There was a fuel leak, but no fire.

## Factual narrative

On August 14, 1995, about 1950 eastern daylight time, a Boeing 747-130, N603FF, operated by Tower Air Inc, as Flight 36, had an uncontained engine failure and was forced to return to John F. Kennedy International Airport, Jamacia, New York.  The airplane received minor damage, and there were no injuries to the flightcrew or the passengers.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a IFR flight plan had been filed.  The flight was being conducted in accordance with 14 CFR Part 121, as a regularly scheduled international air carrier flight.

Flight 36, destined for Paris, France, was on the departure climb and had reached an altitude of 14,000 feet mean sea level (MSL), when the crew reported a severe vibration in the number 1 engine.  The crew shut the engine down, declared an emergency, and returned to Kennedy Airport.

At the time of the incident the P&W, JT9D7A engine, was leased by Tower Air, and had 105 cycles since being installed on July 7, 1995.

Examination of the engine revealed a turbine shroud had separated, and penetrated the turbine exhaust case at the 6 to 9 o'clock position, exited the cowling and punctured the #2 outboard reserve fuel tank, plate.  There was a fuel leak, but no fire.

There was no evacuation of the passengers.  The airplane landed and taxied to the gate.

Numerous attempts were made to secure an NTSB Form 6120.1/2, without success.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N603FF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N603FF-2001-10-30), registration cancelled 2001-10-30, S/N 19746, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Boeing 747-130
- Registry model: [Boeing 747-130](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-747-130) (registry code 1384880) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney JT9D-3A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-jt9d-3a) (registry code 52050, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 19746
- Airframe hours: 10690
- Engines: P&W JT9D7A 46250 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Registered owner: Tower Air
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: AAIP, July 31, 1995
- Departed: JFK
- Destination: ORY, PARIS, OF
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 4,700 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright

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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