McDonnell Douglas MD-88 N947DL

Summary

On 18 September 1999 at about 02:30 local time, a McDonnell Douglas MD-88 registered N947DL was involved in an incident near Covington, Kentucky, United States. 118 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was slightly damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

18 September 1999 at 02:30

Classification

Incident

Location

Covington, Kentucky, United States

Coordinates

39.0794, -84.7009

Aircraft

McDonnell Douglas MD-88

Registration

N947DL

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 121: Air Carrier

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → New York

Aircraft damage

Minor

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

NYC99IA231

Nobody was injured.

Deteriorated wire insulation and shorting at a short radius bend to the electrical wiring in the right side alternate static port heater, which resulted in electrical arcing and a fire sustained by overlaying thermal acoustic insulation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

On departure climb, the flight attendants smelled something burning. Then a passenger noticed a 'glow' in the right side air vent near his feet and reported that the cabin floor was warm. Halon was sprayed into the vent, and the glow disappeared. The pilot declared an emergency and returned to the departure airport. The airplane was stopped on the runway and based upon reports from emergency personnel, an emergency evacuation was performed. Thermal damage and sooting was found on the right side underside floor structure, a nearby fiberglass bin wall panel, and a potable water bottle. A 5-foot by 5-foot area of insulation, which consisted of fiberglass, covered on both sides with a metallized mylar, was burned. The right side, alternate static port heater lay under the insulation. The insulation on one of the wires leading to the heater was found to be deteriorated and melted where it was bent around the thermostat case. Evidence of metal transfer was found between the solid-core wire and the adjacent heater case. Soot was found on the insulation covering the wire and adjacent heater case. The heater was manufactured with the wire bend.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.