Douglas DC-8-51 N507DC

Summary

On 30 April 1998 at about 02:00 local time, a Douglas DC-8-51 registered N507DC, operated by Fine Airlines, Inc., was involved in an incident near Brownsville, Texas, United States. 4 people were on board and 4 had minor injuries. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

30 April 1998 at 02:00

Classification

Incident

Location

Brownsville, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Brownsville/South Padre (BRO)

Coordinates

25.9209, -97.4800

Aircraft

Douglas DC-8-51

Registration

N507DC

Category

Airplane

Engines

4

Operator

Fine Airlines, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 121: Air Carrier

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Laredo

Aircraft damage

Not recorded

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Bright

NTSB number

FTW98IA196

4 people had minor injuries.

The flightcrew experienced physical impairment resulting from an accumulation in the cockpit of carbon dioxide fumes produced by dry ice, a hazardous material, carried in the main cargo compartment.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

While taxiing to takeoff, all four occupants of the DC-8 freighter became short of breath. They donned oxygen masks, and the flight returned to the ramp. Cargo included 960 pounds of dry ice (solid carbon dioxide) in 198 separate 4.85-pound blocks, used as a refrigerant for frozen shrimp. Sublimation of dry ice to the gaseous state occurs constantly. When the carbon dioxide (CO2) gas concentration reaches 0.5% shortness of breath may occur, at 2%, depth of respiration increases, and above 4%, breathing becomes rapid and very deep. At sea level and 70 degrees F (incident conditions were 23 feet msl and 66 degrees F), 0.4 pounds of CO2 gas in the cockpit of a DC-8 produces a 0.5% concentration and 3.3 pounds produces a 4% concentration. In 10 minutes, at sublimation rates of 1% and 14% per hour, 960 pounds of dry ice produces 1.6 and 22.4 pounds of CO2 gas, respectively. The 1% sublimation rate is commonly used when calculating amounts of dry ice that can safely be carried on aircraft; however, it was determined for bulk shipments of dry ice and may not be applicable to dry ice used as a refrigerant. The 14% rate was determined using a single 5 pound block of ice.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.