# NTSB NYC96IA168: Boeing 727-232, N533DA, Flushing, NY, August 14, 1996 - Type: NTSB incident investigation - Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report - Date: August 14, 1996, 19:20 local (23:20 UTC) - Place: Flushing, NY - Coordinates: 40.770305, -73.870925 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7703&lon=-73.8709&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 139 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 30, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39104 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC96IA168 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39104/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC96IA168 ## Probable cause a failure of the low pressure turbine assembly for undetermined reason(s). ## 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 - 1 engine - turbine assembly - undetermined (cause) - turbine assembly - failure (cause) ## Analysis The pilots reported that shortly after takeoff, there was a compressor stall in the No. 2 engine, followed by a loss of engine power, and an abnormal oil pressure reading. The engine was shut down and the pilot made an emergency landing at JFK Airport. Debris came to rest in a residential area where a vehicle was struck. Examination of the engine revealed that turbine parts punctured through the turbine exhaust case in several locations but were contained by the fan exit duct. All the 4th stage turbine blades fractured across the airfoil just above the platform and were retained in the disk. Twelve of the twenty-five 4th stage turbine vane clusters were missing and the remaining clusters showed considerable trailing edge damage. All the 3rd stage turbine blades and vanes exhibited minor secondary damage with no blade or vane damage observed forward of the 3rd stage. The engine had accumulated 235 flight hours and 171 cycles prior to the incident since its last heavy maintenance inspection. The investigation did not reveal the exact origin of the turbine failure. ## Factual narrative On August 14, 1996, about 1920 eastern daylight time, a Boeing 727-232, N533DA, operated by Delta Airlines as flight 801, experienced a turbine failure of the number two engine, during departure from LaGuardia Airport, Flushing, New York. The airplane received minor damage, and the occupants were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions existed and an instrument flight plan was filed. The destination was Tampa, Florida and the flight was operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 121. The pilot reported that shortly after takeoff, there was a compressor stall, followed by a loss of engine power, and an abnormal oil pressure reading. The engine was shut down and the flight diverted to John F. Kennedy Airport for a landing. After landing, the flight taxied to the gate where the passengers deplaned normally through the jetway. Debris came to rest in a residential area where a vehicle was struck. Examination of the engine revealed that turbine parts punctured through the turbine exhaust case in several locations but were contained by the fan exit duct. All the 4th stage turbine blades were fractured across the airfoil just above the platform and were retained in the disk. Twelve of the twenty-five 4th stage turbine vane clusters were missing and the remaining clusters showed considerable trailing edge damage. All the 3rd stage turbine blades and vanes exhibited minor secondary damage with no blade or vane damage observed forward of the 3rd stage. The engine had accumulated 235 flight hours and 171 cycles prior to the incident since its last heavy maintenance inspection. The investigation did not reveal the exact origin of the turbine failure. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N533DA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N533DA-2005-03-30), registration cancelled 2005-03-30, S/N 22046, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Boeing 727-232 - Registry model: [Boeing 727-232](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-727-232) (registry code 1384082) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney JT8D-15](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-jt8d-15) (registry code 52051, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22046 - Airframe hours: 48427 - Engines: P&W JT8D-15A 15500 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: No damage - Flight: Part 121 - Registered owner: Delta Airlines - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, August 11, 1996, 21 hours before - Departed: LGA - Destination: TPA, TAMPA, FL - Flight plan: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 13,000 ft broken - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: LGA 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.