McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 GNIUK

Summary

On 11 May 1997 at about 23:34 local time, a McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 registered GNIUK was involved in an accident near San Juan. 263 people were on board and one was seriously injured. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

11 May 1997 at 23:34

Classification

Accident

Location

San Juan

Nearest airport

Luis Munoz Marin Intl. (SJU)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30

Registration

GNIUK

Category

Airplane

Engines

3

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 129: Foreign

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Gatwick

Aircraft damage

Not recorded

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

MIA97LA159

1 person was seriously injured.

an on ground engine fire in the No. 3 (right) engine resulting from a failed heat exchanger, and subsequent fuel leak. A factor in this accident was the cabin crew's improper handling of the evacuation which resulted in serious injury to a passenger.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane was taxiing for departure on taxiway 'N', when a smell fuel was detected in the cabin. About the same time, the crew of a commuter flight taxiing behind, the DC-10, reported that the right engine was on fire. The crew saw the smoke from the cockpit window, the captain stopped the airplane, shut the engines down, and order an evacuation. Crash fire rescue equipment was used to put out the fire. Examination of the right engine [No.3] revealed that the fuel/oil heat exchanger (part number 158210-11) had failed as a result of fretting wear between the baffle plate and the retaining slots in the casing, causing a fuel leak. There was no damage to the engine or the airframe. According to a passenger's description of the evacuation there was general panic in the cabin, passengers screamed and pushed to get out. Some passengers had not cleared the bottom of the escape chute, because no one was at the bottom of the chute to help people stand up and move out of the way promptly. After evacuating the airplane passengers were standing around on the tarmac and did not know were to go, because nobody was directing passengers away from the plane. Some passengers were standing near the bottom of the chute, and others were moving away in all possible directions.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.