Incident Overview

Date: Tuesday 1 March 1994
Aircraft Type: Boeing 747-251B
Owner/operator: Northwest Airlines
Registration Number: N637US
Location: Tokyo-Narita Airport (NRT) – ÿ Japan
Phase of Flight: Landing
Status: Substantial, repaired
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 245
Component Affected: Nozzle and pylon of the No. 1 engine during the rollout.Nozzle and pylon of the No. 1 engine during the rollout.
Investigating Agency: ARAICARAIC
Category: Accident
A Northwest Airlines Flight 18 experienced a significant incident during its landing at Narita Airport, Japan, involving a near-miss with the runway. The initial landing rollout and touchdown were routine, but a critical issue arose during the rollout when the No. 1 engine and pylon rotated downward, causing contact with the runway. Subsequently, the lower forward engine nose cowl contacted the runway, resulting in damage to the aircraft’s surface. A fire was quickly extinguished, and the aircraft was subsequently stopped on a taxiway. While there were no injuries, concerns were raised regarding the inadequate training and qualifications of maintenance personnel, contributing to a hazardous work environment. The incident highlights a potential structural failure due to a lack of proper retainer maintenance and a subsequent failure of the fuse pin, leading to a catastrophic event.A Northwest Airlines Flight 18 experienced a significant incident during its landing at Narita Airport, Japan, involving a near-miss with the runway. The initial landing rollout and touchdown were routine, but a critical issue arose during the rollout when the No. 1 engine and pylon rotated downward, causing contact with the runway. Subsequently, the lower forward engine nose cowl contacted the runway, resulting in damage to the aircraft’s surface. A fire was quickly extinguished, and the aircraft was subsequently stopped on a taxiway. While there were no injuries, concerns were raised regarding the inadequate training and qualifications of maintenance personnel, contributing to a hazardous work environment. The incident highlights a potential structural failure due to a lack of proper retainer maintenance and a subsequent failure of the fuse pin, leading to a catastrophic event.

Description

Northwest Airlines Flight 18 had departed from Hong Kong for a flight to New York-JFK with an intermediate stop at Tokyo-Narita, Japan. The flight, touchdown, and initial landing rollout at Narita, were routine. Engine thrust reversing was normal on all four engines until the flight crew moved the engine power levers out of reverse thrust at about 90 knots. During the rollout, the No. 1 engine and pylon rotated downward about the midspar pylon-to-wing fittings into a position in which the lower forward part of the engine nose cowl contacted the runway. The airplane was subsequently stopped on a taxiway, with the front of the No. 1 engine still contacting the ground. The lower forward engine nose cowl had been ground away as it slid along the runway. A fire near the No. 1 engine was rapidly extinguished by local fire fighters, and all passengers remained aboard. They were subsequently deplaned via portable boarding stairs about 30 minutes after the airplane was brought to a stop. There were no injuries. Maintenance and inspection personnel who worked on the airplane were not adequately trained and qualified to perform the required maintenance and inspection functions. In addition, the work environment for the heavy maintenance of the airplane was inadequate and contributed to an effort producing situation for the workers. PROBABLE CAUSE: “When C check of the aircraft was conducted, the retainer for the diagonal brace aft fuse pin of No.1 nacelle strut was removed and the aircraft was returned to service without reinstalling the retainer. In the course of the flights after this, the fuse pin moved, disconnecting the diagonal brace at the aft joint. It is estimated that when the thrust reverser was deployed during the landing roll under such circumstances, the forward fuse pin of the upper link was fractured due to a load in excess of the design rupture strength, dangling the forward portion of No.1 engine and a fire on leaked oil and fuel broke out in the aft portion of the nacelle strut.”

Primary Cause

Failure to properly maintain and reinstall a retainer for the diagonal brace aft fuse pin of the No. 1 nacelle strut during a critical maintenance check, leading to a fractured fuse pin and subsequent structural failure.Failure to properly maintain and reinstall a retainer for the diagonal brace aft fuse pin of the No. 1 nacelle strut during a critical maintenance check, leading to a fractured fuse pin and subsequent structural failure.

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