Pilot Debrief

BOEING 757 near Jamaica, NY — 2016-07-07

Final reportENG16IA027
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Date
2016-07-07
Location
Jamaica, NY, USA
Airport
JFK
Aircraft
BOEING 757
Registration
N706TW
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Takeoff roll

Probable cause

Maintenance personnel's failure to ensure proper installation of a fuel tube O-ring, which resulted in an undercowl engine fire during initial climb.

NTSB narrative

An O-ring was severed when being installed on a fuel tube during maintenance. The damage degraded the O-ring sealing function at the right engine FFT-to-fuel OUT tube flange. During the next takeoff, high-pressure fuel flowed past the damaged seal and sprayed into the engine core compartment. The fuel contacted hot engine surfaces and ignited. The right nacelle fire detection system detected the fire and a right engine fire warning alerted in the cockpit. The flight crew shut down the right engine, which cut off the engine fuel supply. The fire extinguished after the fuel supply was stopped. The fire damaged the right engine external components and burned through the right nacelle inboard core cowl.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Mechanical failure
First missed decision gate
Proper installation and lubrication of the fuel flow transmitter O-ring could have prevented the fire.

NTSB coding

  • Fire/smoke (non-impact) · Initial climb

Evidence available

  • 9 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents9

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