Boeing B727-223 N6821
4 January 1991 · Des Moines, Iowa, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 4 January 1991 at about 01:30 local time, a Boeing B727-223 registered N6821, operated by American Airlines, Inc., was involved in an incident near Des Moines, Iowa, United States. 104 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 01:30
- Classification
- Incident
- Location
- Des Moines, Iowa, United States
- Nearest airport
- Des Moines International (DSM)
- Coordinates
- 41.5306, -93.6593
- Aircraft
- Boeing B727-223
- Registration
- N6821
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 3
- Operator
- American Airlines, Inc.
- Operating rule
- Part 121: Air Carrier
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Dallas/Ft.worth → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Not recorded
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Night/Dark
- NTSB number
- CHI91IA058
People
2 people had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 104 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 102 |
Probable cause
AN OIL LEAK ORIGINATING FROM THE AUXILIARY POWER UNIT WHICH CREATED SMOKE IN THE PASSENGER CABIN AFTER IT PASSED THROUGH THE AIR CONDITIONING/HEATING SYSTEM EQUIPMENT AND ASSOCIATED DUCT WORK.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE AIRPLANE WAS TAXIING TO ITS ASSIGNED GATE AFTER LANDING WHEN A FLIGHT ATTENDENT INFORMED THE CAPTAIN THAT THERE WAS A FIRE IN THE REAR OF THE AIRPLANE. THE CAPTAIN IMMEDIATELY STOPPED AND THE PASSENGERS WERE DEPLANNED USING THE COMPANY'S EMERGENCY EVACUATION PROCEDURES. A FLIGHT ATTENDENT AND ONE PASSENGER RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES DURING THE EVACUATION PROCESS. NINETH-SIX PASSENGERS AND SIX OTHER AIRPLANE CREWMEMBERS DID NOT RECEIVE INJURIES. A FIRE WAS NOT PRESENT, SMOKE HAD BEEN FILLING THE PASSENGER CABIN. THE SMOKE CAME FROM THE AIR CONDITIONING/HEATING SYSTEM DUCTS. THE SMOKE WAS A RESULT OF AN OIL LEAK IN THE AIRCRAFT POWER UNIT (APU) WHICH ENTERED THE APU DUCT WORK, THE AIR CONDITIONING PACKS AND ASSOCIATED CIRCULATION DUCTING. WHEN A CERTAIN HEAT RANGE HAD BEEN SELECTED THE OIL LADEN AIR WOULD CHANGE INTO SMOKE AS IT EXITED THE CABIN HEAT DUCT OPENING.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Boeing B727 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Nov 1995 | Boeing B727-224 | Panama City, Panama | Continental Airlines, Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 6 Oct 1983 | Boeing B727-023 | Dfw Airport, Texas, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 2 Mar 1979 | Boeing B727 | Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States | Western Air Lines, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 4 May 2006 | Boeing B727-200 | Banglore, India | Transmile Airlines | No injuries | - |
| 16 May 2008 | Boeing B727-200F | Kolonia, Federated States Of Micronesia | Asia Pacific Airlines | No injuries | - |
| 26 Mar 2009 | Boeing B727 | Eldorado, Colombia | Cosmos Air Transport | Unknown | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 Jun 1991 | Heal SONERAI-I | Davenport, Iowa, United States | R.w. Leonard | Fatal | 1 |
| 11 Aug 1991 | Canadian Car & Foundry HARVARD MARK IV | Ida Grove, Iowa, United States | Mack Stevens ORR | Fatal | 1 |
| 31 Aug 1991 | Tullis TIERRA II | Ottumwa, Iowa, United States | Randy L. Saner | Fatal | 2 |
| 11 May 1991 | Piper J3 | Creston, Iowa, United States | MKI Incorporated | No injuries | - |
| 14 Oct 1991 | Piper PA-46-310P | Sioux Center, Iowa, United States | Interstate Elect. & ENG. Co. | Serious injuries | - |
| 31 May 1991 | Cessna 172E | Grundy Center, Iowa, United States | Robert Willett | No injuries | - |