NTSB ADVISORY
National Transportation Safety Board
Washington, DC 20594
May 21, 2010
In its continuing investigation of a fire aboard a Boeing
757 that diverted to Dulles Airport (IAD) enroute to the Los
Angeles International airport (LAX) from New York’s John F.
Kennedy International airport (JFK), the National
Transportation Safety Board has developed the following
factual information:
On Sunday, May 16, 2010, about 9:17 pm (EDT) the pilots on
United Airlines flight 27, a Boeing 757, N510UA, noted a
strong acrid smell and observed smoke from the Captain’s
lower front windshield. The incident occurred about 30
minutes into the flight while the aircraft was level at
36,000 feet MSL. On board the aircraft were 7 crew members
and 105 passengers.
The Captain and First Officer reported that they donned
their oxygen masks and smoke goggles immediately after
observing the smoke and fire. The Captain then gave control
of the airplane to the First Officer and discharged a halon
fire extinguisher. The smoke and fire dissipated but then
re-ignited. The Captain obtained a second bottle from the
Purser. The fire remained extinguished after this second
bottle was discharged. At approximately 500 feet MSL on
final approach to Runway19L at IAD, the Captain’s windshield
cracked. The landing was uneventful. The airplane cleared
the runway, after which ARFF (Aircraft Rescue Firefighting)
entered the aircraft to check for residual heat and fire.
None was found and the airplane was towed to the gate for
deplaning. There were no evacuation and no injuries to the
flight crew or passengers.
Preliminary examination of the cockpit area revealed that
the inner pane of the Captain’s windshield had cracked. One
of the five terminal blocks attached to the inside of the
lower left windshield was consumed by fire and the portion
of the wire harness associated with this terminal block was
significantly damaged by fire. There was significant sooting
and paint peeling to the left hand side of the windshield
air frame support.
The Captain’s windshield was moved and will be examined by
Board investigators at the manufacturer.
Two previous windshield fire events on B757-200 aircraft
prompted the NTSB to issue Safety Recommendation A-07-50
http://www.ntsb.gov/recs/letters/2007/A07_49_50.pdf. The
Safety Board investigators will look closely at the
recovered hardware to determine if this latest event is
related.
To include the featured image in your Twitter Card, please tap or click their icon a second time.
American Airlines flight AA-1191 had to return and make an emergency landing in Chicago, Illinois, on February 21st.
Qantas flight QF-16 had to return and make an emergency landing in Los Angeles, California, on December 27th.