# NTSB SEA02LA049: Boeing 757-200, N589UA, Seattle, WA, March 2, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 2, 2002, 06:20 local (14:20 UTC) - Place: Seattle, WA - Coordinates: 47.439933, -122.280471 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.4399&lon=-122.2805&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 90 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 3, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Seattle FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 54300 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA02LA049 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54300/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54300 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA02LA049 ## Probable cause The failure of the deicing truck driver to insure that the deicing basket boom remained clear of the aircraft structure as he backed away from the position he had been in while performing deicing procedures. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, standing - engine(s) operating - clearance - not maintained, driver of vehicle (cause) ## Analysis After completing deicing procedures on a company Boeing 757-200, the driver of the deicing truck maneuvered his truck in a manner that caused the deicing basket boom to impact the trailing edge of the aircraft's left aileron. The boom penetrated the aileron to a depth of almost two feet and damaged its spar. The investigation revealed that while backing out from his position behind the aircraft's left wing, the driver had inadvertently turned his steering wheel in a direction that caused the boom, which is mounted on the back end of the truck, to converge on the trailing edge of the aileron. ## Factual narrative On March 2, 2002, approximately 0620 Pacific standard time, a United Airlines Boeing 757-200, N589UA, was impacted by the boom of a deicing truck while it was standing in position on the ramp with the engines running. The airline transport pilot, his first officer, the four flight attendants, and the 83 passengers were not injured, but the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 121 scheduled domestic passenger flight, which was preparing to depart for O'Hare International Airport, Chicago, Illinois, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions. The crew had filed an IFR flight plan. There was no emergency evacuation. According to United Airlines, the aircraft had been pushed back about 20 feet from the gate in order to remove heavy frost prior to taxi for departure. The deicing truck, which was being manned by a driver and a boom operator, had just completed deicing procedures when the accident occurred. Reportedly, the driver of the deicing truck, which had been parked just aft of the left wing and nose-in perpendicular to the fuselage, inadvertently turned his steering wheel in the wrong direction as he attempted to back away from the aircraft. In so doing, he allowed the deicing boom, which is mounted on the back end of the truck, to impact the trailing edge of the left aileron. The boom penetrated the aileron's structure to a depth of almost two feet, and damaging its spar. The boom operator, who was in the basket at the time of the impact was not injured. The deicing truck was not damaged. According to United Airlines Flight Safety, the area was well lighted, there were no ramp space constraints, and there was no apparent distractions or rushing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N589UA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N589UA-2023-01-24), registration cancelled 2023-01-24, S/N 28707, built 1997 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Boeing 757-200 - Registry model: [Boeing 757-222](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-757-222) (registry code 1384956) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PW2037](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pw2037) (registry code 52117, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28707 - Airframe hours: 17618 - Engines: Rolls-Royce RB-211-535C 37400 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 121 - Registered owner: United Airlines - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, September 11, 2001, 1,668 hours before - Departed: SEA, Seattle, WA - Destination: ORD, Chigago, IL - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: KSEA, Seattle/Tacoma Int. ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; flight engineer, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review October 31, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 14,600 total, 1,800 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn - Wind: 130° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.50 inHg - Observed at: KSEA ## 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 20020302002789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020302002789A), Mar 2, 2002: Boeing 757222, Seattle, WA, No damage. (-23) Approximately 0620 the aircraft was pushed back from gate N-2. The aircraft was then stopped for de-icing. The de-ice vehicle was positioned behind the… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 9, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54300. 396 KB in all. - Supplement E (item 1, .PDF, 115 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40155599&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Supplement%20E-Master.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 2, .PDF, 282 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40391598&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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.