Boeing 737-222 N9003U
10 April 1991 · Seattle, Washington, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 10 April 1991 at about 02:54 local time, a Boeing 737-222 registered N9003U, operated by United Airlines, was involved in an incident near Seattle, Washington, United States. 33 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was slightly damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 02:54
- Classification
- Incident
- Location
- Seattle, Washington, United States
- Nearest airport
- Seattle (SEA)
- Coordinates
- 47.4394, -122.2808
- Aircraft
- Boeing 737-222
- Registration
- N9003U
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 2
- Operator
- United Airlines
- Operating rule
- Part 121: Air Carrier
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Unknown → Sacramento
- Aircraft damage
- Minor
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- SEA91IA081
People
2 people had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 31 |
Probable cause
TURBINE BLADE FAILURE FROM FATIGUE. FACTORS TO THE INCIDENT WERE INOPERATIVE ENGINE FIRE EXTINGUISHER, INADEQUATE SERVICE OF AIRCRAFT AND DELAYED DEPLOYMENT OF EMERGENCY SLIDE.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB, THE FLIGHT CREW HEARD A LOUD BANG FOLLOWED BY AIRFRAME VIBRATIONS. THE CREW WAS NOTIFIED BY THE CONTROL TOWER THAT SMOKE AND FLAME WERE EMITTING FROM THE LEFT ENGINE. THE FLIGHT CREW DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND WAS CLEARED TO LAND. THE PILOT DISCHARGED A BANK OF FIRE EXTINGUISHING AGENT AND SHUT THE ENGINE DOWN. THE FLIGHT LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. DURING THE FOLLOW-UP INVESTIGATION, IT WAS FOUND THAT A TURBINE BLADE FAILED IN FATIGUE. THE FLIGHT CREW HAD RECEIVED AN INDICTION THAT THE FIRE EXTINGUISHING AGENT HAD DISCHARGED, HOWEVER, IT WAS LATER FOUND THAT IT DIDN'T DUE TO THE INSTALLATION OF AN INCORRECT DISCHARGE OUTLET. THE REAR EMERGENCY SLIDE ON THE RIGHT SIDE WAS SLOW IN INFLATING AND WAS NOT USABLE FOR THE EVACUATION. THE SLIDE WAS INSTALLED ON A TEST STAND AND FOUND TO OPERATE WITHIN NORMAL OPERATING PARAMETERS.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Boeing 737 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Jun 1991 | Boeing 737-3G7 | Elko, Nevada, United States | America West Airlines | Serious injuries | - |
| 13 Feb 1991 | Boeing 737-200 | Unalaska, Alaska, United States | Markair, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 12 Oct 1991 | Boeing 737-300 | Grand Cayman Is, Cayman Islands | Cayman Airways | Unknown | - |
| 18 Nov 1991 | Boeing 737-200 | San Jose, Costa Rica | SVC. Aero. de Honduras SA | Unknown | - |
| 2 Feb 1991 | Boeing 737-300 | Los Angeles, California, United States | Usair | Fatal | 34 |
| 3 Mar 1991 | Boeing 737-291 | Colorado Spgs, Colorado, United States | United Airlines | Fatal | 25 |
All 1,317 records for this type
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 Mar 1991 | Bell BH-47G2A | Waitsburg, Washington, United States | Waitsburg Helicopter Service | No injuries | - |
| 6 Apr 1991 | Robinson R22 BETA | Kent, Washington, United States | Classic Helicopter | No injuries | - |
| 6 Apr 1991 | Grumman American AA-1C | Wenatchee, Washington, United States | James Q. Baxter | No injuries | - |
| 12 Apr 1991 | Aeronca 11AC | Port Orchard, Washington, United States | John D. Gracie | No injuries | - |
| 13 Apr 1991 | Cessna C-172N | Ellensburg, Washington, United States | Interwest Aviation | No injuries | - |
| 17 Apr 1991 | Grumman G-21A | Spokane, Washington, United States | Loel Fenwick | No injuries | - |