Engine fire on AMR MD-80 at St. Louis

[mhawke]

Just went looking for St Louis archives, but the feed is down 


I just saw this on MSNBC, apparently an MD-80 shortly after take off had an engine fire and returned to St. Louis.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21035239/from/RS.5/

[Fryy/Avocadoflight]

Some pretty good pics of this incident. N454AA AAL1400.

[Unbeliever]

Some pretty good pics of this incident. N454AA AAL1400.

The first photo (fire in flight) is fake.  Original image here:
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0765119/L/

--Carlos V.

[Fryy/Avocadoflight]

haha no way. good to know. atleast we get an idea what it may have looked like... 

[jonnevin]

and the engine fire was only the beginning of their problems...on the return approach, they had trouble getting nose gear down.

Report below:
http://ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20071005X01522&key=1

[nwales]

Some pretty good pics of this incident. N454AA AAL1400.

The first photo (fire in flight) is fake.  Original image here:
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0765119/L/

--Carlos V.

I looked at that image and thought "That looks so fake.." but then when I saw the tail number matched.. It's weird they actually found a photo of the correct aircraft to photoshop.

[kea001]

Safety board urges changes at American Airlines

Testimony at the hearing indicated that mechanics contributed to the problems by failing to properly maintain a metal air filter and using the wrong tool, possibly a screwdriver, to manually start the troubled engine.
Smith said mechanics have been told specifically not to use screwdrivers on the restart button.
At the hearing, NTSB officials criticized the pilot and co-pilot for some actions, including interrupting an emergency checklist to tell passengers of the problem, which delayed shutting off fuel to the fire.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5im35354k_WvPxovL0bZCbzDI8syQD989IQU01

[joeyb747]

More problems for Americans' Mad Dog fleet? When will it end?

Lets re-cap:
Two engine failures, one lightning strike, and now this?

Not good for American Airlines publicity! 

While none of these were crashes with loss of life, lets not forget the Martin 202. Northwest lost 5 Martin 202s in a three year period from August 1948 to November 1951. The negative press caused the public, and NWA crew members, to shun and avoid flying on the airplane.

American has had four MD-80s involved in incidents this year alone! 

[joeyb747]

My mistake...may have helped if I read the dates on the posts...2007...oops... Guess I should look at dates before I shoot my mouth off! 

[jrsx]

More problems for Americans' Mad Dog fleet? When will it end?

Lets re-cap:
Two engine failures, one lightning strike, and now this?

Not good for American Airlines publicity! 

While none of these were crashes with loss of life, lets not forget the Martin 202. Northwest lost 5 Martin 202s in a three year period from August 1948 to November 1951. The negative press caused the public, and NWA crew members, to shun and avoid flying on the airplane.

American has had four MD-80s involved in incidents this year alone! 

yah, they are getting old, it's a shame though, the MD-80/90s are one of my favorite aircraft. Can you imagine being the poor sucker with the window seat in the last row and having that as a view?

[joeyb747]

The Final Report is out on the incident involving American Airlines MD-82 N454AA:
 
"The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was American Airlines’ maintenance personnel’s use of an inappropriate manual engine-start procedure, which led to the uncommanded opening of the left engine air turbine starter valve, and a subsequent left engine fire, which was prolonged by the flight crew’s interruption of an emergency checklist to perform nonessential tasks. Contributing to the accident were deficiencies in American Airlines’ Continuing Analysis and Surveillance System program."

From:

http://avherald.com/h?article=427c6520&opt=0

NTSB Final Report here:

http://www.ntsb.gov/publictn/2009/AAR0903.pdf