Incident Overview

Date: Sunday 20 September 1981
Aircraft Type: McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30CF
Owner/operator: World Airways
Registration Number: N112WA
Location: between Baltimore and London – ÿ Atlantic Ocean
Phase of Flight: En route
Casualties: Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 346
Component Affected: Galley personnel lift system door electrical interlock switchesGalley personnel lift system door electrical interlock switches
Investigating Agency: NTSBNTSB
Category: Accident
A DC-10-30CF flight attendant was fatally injured during a flight involving World Airways Flight 32 when the service cart in the galley personnel lift caused the lift to raise, trapping the attendant. The accident resulted from a malfunction in the galley personnel lift system, specifically the electrical interlock switches, which allowed the lift to rise with the door open.A DC-10-30CF flight attendant was fatally injured during a flight involving World Airways Flight 32 when the service cart in the galley personnel lift caused the lift to raise, trapping the attendant. The accident resulted from a malfunction in the galley personnel lift system, specifically the electrical interlock switches, which allowed the lift to rise with the door open.

Description

A flight attendant on board World Airways Flight 32, a DC-10-30CF, was fatally injured as a result of being trapped between a service cart in the galley personnel lift and the ceiling of the lower galley as the lift raised. No other crewmembers or passengers were injured. The flight landed at London Gatwick Airport in the United Kingdom at 05:55 GMT. The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of the accident was the malfunction of the galley personnel lift system door electrical interlock switches which permitted the galley personnel lift to rise with the door in the lower galley in the open position. Contributing to the accident was the design of the interlock switch system, the design of the galley lift service cart retention and release system, and the inadequate preflight inspection program for the galley lift system.

Primary Cause

Malfunction of the galley personnel lift system door electrical interlock switches.Malfunction of the galley personnel lift system door electrical interlock switches.

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