Accident Details
Date
Wednesday, March 30, 1988
NTSB Number
DCA88IA044
Location
BOSTON, MA
Event ID
20001213X25244
Aircraft Damage
MINR
Highest Injury
None
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
86
Total Aboard
86
Probable Cause and Findings
THE IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF THE BATTERY GROUND CONNECTION THAT RESULTED IN PREMATURE LOOSENING OF THE CONNECTION AND ELECTRICAL ARC IGNITION OF POOLED FUEL IN THE CAC BILGE. THE FUEL WAS NOT DRAINED OVERBOARD DUE TO INOPERATIVE CAC BILGE AREA DRAIN VALVES. CONTRIBUTING TO THE INCIDENT WAS NORTHWEST'S NON-COMPLIANCE WITH A SERVICE BULLETIN TO MODIFY THE GROUND CABLE ATTACHMENT BRACKET TO PREVENT LOOSENING OF THE CONNECTION.
Aircraft Information
Registration
N154US
Make
MCDONNELL DOUGLAS
Serial Number
46763
Engine Type
Turbo-jet
Registered Owner (Historical)
Name
NORTHWEST AIRLINES INC
Address
5101 NORTHWEST DRIVE C7-8960
Status
Deregistered
City
ST PAUL
State / Zip Code
MN 55111
Country
United States
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# DCA88IA044