Incident Overview

Date: Wednesday 5 September 2001
Aircraft Type: Boeing 777-236ER
Owner/operator: British Airways
Registration Number: G-VIIK
Location: Denver International Airport, CO (DEN) – ÿ United States of America
Phase of Flight: Standing
Status: Substantial, repaired
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 26
Component Affected: The airplane’s refueling adapter ring.The airplane’s refueling adapter ring.
Investigating Agency: NTSBNTSB
Category: Accident
A British Airways flight experienced a significant fire during taxiing at Denver International Airport. The engine shutdown occurred at 17:06, and passengers began disembarking. A refueling truck, positioned under the aircraft, was connected to the airplane’s refueling manifold system. A hose detached, spraying fuel and igniting it, causing a large fire. Fire trucks arrived quickly, extinguishing the blaze.A British Airways flight experienced a significant fire during taxiing at Denver International Airport. The engine shutdown occurred at 17:06, and passengers began disembarking. A refueling truck, positioned under the aircraft, was connected to the airplane’s refueling manifold system. A hose detached, spraying fuel and igniting it, causing a large fire. Fire trucks arrived quickly, extinguishing the blaze.

Description

British Airways flight 2019 landed on runway 16 at Denver International Airport at 16:56 and taxied to gate A37. The engines were shut down at 17:06, and the disembarking of passengers began. A refueling truck was the positioned under the airplane’s left wing, facing aft, and outboard of the left engine. The refueler attached two hoses to the airplane refueling manifold system and started the fuel flow. During the process the inboard fuel hose suddenly separate from the airplane, flapping around and spraying fuel. The fuel mist then ignited, engulfing the area in flames. The fire trucks arrived within two minutes and immediately extinguished the fire. The refueler suffered fatal injuries. PROBABLE CAUSE: “The overstress fracture of the airplane’s refueling adapter ring that resulted from the abnormal angular force applied to it. The applied angular force occurred due to the ground refueler inadequately positioning the hydrant fuel truck (in relation to the airplane), and his inattentiveness while lowering the refueling lift platform, thus permitting the refueling hose to become snagged and pulled at an angle. The fracture of the adapter ring during the refueling led to the ignition of the pressurized (mist producing) spilled fuel and subsequent fire.”

Primary Cause

Overstress fracture of the airplane’s refueling adapter ring due to an abnormal angular force applied during refueling, resulting from inadequate hydrant fuel truck positioning and the refueling lift platform’s inattention.Overstress fracture of the airplane’s refueling adapter ring due to an abnormal angular force applied during refueling, resulting from inadequate hydrant fuel truck positioning and the refueling lift platform’s inattention.

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