Boeing 757-200 N704X

Summary

On 10 June 2003 at about 16:30 local time, a Boeing 757-200 registered N704X, operated by TWA Airlines LLC., was involved in an incident near Dodge City, Kansas, United States. 174 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

10 June 2003 at 16:30

Classification

Incident

Location

Dodge City, Kansas, United States

Coordinates

37.7504, -100.0092

Aircraft

Boeing 757-200

Registration

N704X

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

TWA Airlines LLC.

Operating rule

Part 121: Air Carrier

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

St Louis → Santa Ana

Aircraft damage

Not recorded

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DEN03IA101

1 person had minor injuries.

the inadvertent activation of the flight deck door's upper pressure relief latch during closure of the door, resulting in the deployment of the upper decompression panel which subsequently struck the captain. Contributing factors included the operator's improper compliance with the door manufacturer's service bulletin, the operator's inadequate service and maintenance of the flight deck door, and the door manufacturer's inadequate service bulletin compliance determination.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The lead flight attendant had given the captain a tray of refreshments and was attempting to secure the flight deck door. When the flight attendant slammed the door closed, the upper pressure relief latch activated, causing the upper decompression panel to open. The panel fell forward and down, striking the captain on the head. The captain received a 1-inch cut on his head. The first officer requested and received clearance for an immediate descent and landing at Denver, Colorado. An examination of the flight deck door showed the correct placard in place; however, the door was not in compliance with the manufacturer's issued Service Bulletin (SB), B231001-52-02 for the Boeing model 757-200 flight deck door. On further examination, the doorstop mechanism, mounted on the bottom of the flight deck door, was found to be loose and missing one attachment screw. According to an FAA inspector, this misalignment would cause the door to "hang and catch" the floor, requiring added force to close the door. The SB instructed that modified pressure relief latches and latch spacers be installed on the upper and lower decompression panels on flight deck doors, and latch straps be installed on upper panels. The airline company and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) were aware of previous problems with the flight deck door latches. The NTSB issued an urgent safety recommendation letter requesting the FAA issue an Airworthiness Directive that required compliance with the SB within 90 days. The FAA subsequently issued the appropriate AD.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.