McDonnell Douglas DC-10-10 N111AA

Summary

On 13 July 1991 at about 16:08 local time, a McDonnell Douglas DC-10-10 registered N111AA, operated by American Airlines, was involved in an incident near Los Angeles, California, United States. 227 people were on board and 12 had minor injuries. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

13 July 1991 at 16:08

Classification

Incident

Location

Los Angeles, California, United States

Nearest airport

Los Angeles International (LAX)

Coordinates

33.9493, -118.4003

Aircraft

McDonnell Douglas DC-10-10

Registration

N111AA

Category

Airplane

Engines

3

Operator

American Airlines

Operating rule

Part 121: Air Carrier

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Boston

Aircraft damage

Not recorded

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX91IA308

12 people had minor injuries.

THE FAILURE OF THE NUMBER 2 ENGINE'S FIRE DETECTION SYSTEM, SYSTRON DONNER FIRE DETECTOR.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

DURING FLIGHT, THE #2 ENGINE FIRE DETECTION LIGHT ILLUMINATED, AND THE CAPTAIN DECLARED AN EMERGENCY. AFTER RETURNING TO THE DEPARTURE AIRFIELD, AN EMERGENCY LANDING WAS MADE, WHICH WAS FOLLOWED BY AN EMERGENCY SLIDE EVACUATION OF THE CREW AND PASSENGERS. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT OR ACTUAL FIRE. AN INVESTIGATION OF THE ENGINE'S FIRE DETECTION SYSTEM REVEALED THAT A SYSTRON DONNER FIRE DETECTOR, PN 4361, HAD FAILED. THE EXACT CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.