# NTSB SEA00IA057: Airbus Industrie A-300-600, N667FE, Seattle, WA, March 29, 2000

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: March 28, 2000, 17:08 local (Mar 29, 2000, 01:08 UTC)
- Place: Seattle, WA
- Coordinates: 47.440986, -122.280494 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.4410&lon=-122.2805&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 18, 2001
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 49823
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA00IA057
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49823/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA00IA057

## Probable cause

An oil leak from the aircraft's APU that subsequently contaminated the aircraft's environmental system.

## Sequence of events

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

- Miscellaneous/other, emergency landing
  - air cond/heating/pressurization - contamination (contributing factor)
  - apu (cause)

## Analysis

While on final approach to the airport, the flight declared an emergency due to smoke in the cockpit.  Shortly after declaring the emergency, the aircraft landed without further incident.  Maintenance personnel reported that a post flight inspection of the aircraft revealed a significant oil leak originating from the auxiliary power unit (APU). They also reported that the oil leaking from the APU had contaminated the environmental system resulting in smoke in the cockpit.

## Factual narrative

On March 28, 2000, about 1708 Pacific standard time, an Airbus A300-600, N667FE, registered to First Security Bank, and operated by Federal Express, Inc, a Title 14 CFR 121 supplemental cargo flight, declared an emergency due to smoke in the cockpit while on approach to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Seattle, Washington (the aircraft's scheduled destination).  Shortly after declaring the emergency, the aircraft landed without further incident.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight plan was filed.  The airline transport pilot-in-command and first officer were uninjured.  The flight originated from Indianapolis, Indiana, about 4 hours prior to the incident.

Maintenance personnel from Federal Express reported that a post flight inspection of the aircraft revealed a significant oil leak originating from the auxiliary power unit (APU).  They also reported that the oil leaking from the APU had contaminated the environmental system resulting in smoke in the cockpit.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N667FE](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N667FE), registered now, S/N 771, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Airbus Industrie A-300-600 (A300-600)
- Registry model: [Airbus Industrie A300 F4-605R](https://openairdocs.org/model/airbus-industrie-a300-f4-605r) (registry code 3930327) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [GE CF6-80 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/ge-cf6-80-series) (registry code 30025, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 771
- Engines: P&W turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Registered owner: Federal Express
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: IND, INDIANAPOLIS, IN
- Destination: SEA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: SEA, Seattle/Tacoma Intl, runway 16R, 9,425 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 88 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn
- Wind: 250° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: SEA

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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