Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
Date: | Saturday 7 August 1999 |
Time: | 13:45 |
Type: | McDonnell Douglas DC-10-10F |
Operator: | FedEx |
Registration: | N68058 |
MSN: | 46705/33 |
First flight: | 1972-03-09 (27 years 5 months) |
Total airframe hrs: | 40552 |
Crew: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 3 |
Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
Total: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 5 |
Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
Aircraft fate: | Repaired |
Location: | Memphis International Airport, TN (MEM ( United States of America)
|
Phase: | Approach (APR) |
Nature: | Cargo |
Departure airport: | Los Angeles International Airport, CA (LAX/KLAX), United States of America |
Destination airport: | Memphis International Airport, TN (MEM/KMEM), United States of America |
Flightnumber: | FX3206 |
Narrative:A McDonnell Douglas DC-10-10F, N68058, experienced separation of the left inboard trailing edge flap and flap vane while on final approach to land at the Memphis International Airport, Tennessee.
The first officer was flying the airplane, and while executing a Category IIIB approach to runway 18L in VMC with the flaps fully extended, a loud "jolt" was heard. The autopilot was disconnected and the first officer reported having to use 1/2 to 3/4 right aileron input to counter the left banking tendency.
He continued the approach and landed. firm with less "controllability", but the rollout was normal.
Examination of the airplane by FAA personnel revealed that the left inboard trailing edge flap and vane separated from the airplane. The separated left inboard trailing edge flap and vane were found in a residential area approximately 4 miles north of the airport. The vane was noted to be missing an approximate 2-foot segment, which was found several days after the accident about 1 block from where the flap and vane were found. Further examination of the airplane revealed that the four bolts of the forward attach point of the outboard hinge of the left inboard trailing edge flap, were failed.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The inadequate design by the airplane manufacturer for using bolts to secure the inboard trailing edge flap that are susceptible to stress corrosion cracking. Also, the stress corrosion cracking failure of the four H-11 bolts that secure the left inboard trailing edge flap to the outboard hinge which allowed the separation of the flap and vane while on final approach."
Accident investigation:
|
Investigating agency: | NTSB |
Status: | Investigation completed |
Duration: | 1 year and 9 months | Accident number: | MIA99LA220 | Download report: | Summary report
|
|
Sources:
» NTSB
Photos
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does
not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Los Angeles International Airport, CA to Memphis International Airport, TN as the crow flies is 2583 km (1614 miles).
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.