Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
failure of a cargo tie-down fastener, resulting in unsecured cargo striking the pressure bulkhead.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
On December 23, 2017 at 1221 Alaska Standard Time (AST), a Boeing/McDonnell-Douglas DC-9, N935CE, experienced a depressurization on initial climb from the Bethel, Alaska, airport (PABE.) The flight crew returned to Bethel and landed with no further incident. There were no injuries to the two flight crew members or one cargo handler on board. The depressurization resulted from a pallet jack in the cargo compartment impacting the rear pressure bulkhead, resulting in substantial damage to the airplane. Inspection revealed a tie-down fastener for the pallet jack had pulled out.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# DCA18CA056