Accident · 2018-04-17

NTSB case DCA18MA142 · BOEING 737 7H4 · Part 121

What the record says

Event date: 2018-04-17
Event type: Accident
Highest injury level: Fatal injury
Aircraft: BOEING 737 7H4 (N772SW)
Operating rule: Part 121
Operator: SOUTHWEST AIRLINES, CO. Operator named in NTSB report
Operated by (per NTSB report): SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO

Probable cause

A low-cycle fatigue crack in the dovetail of fan blade No. 13, which resulted in the fan blade separating in flight and impacting the engine fan case at a location that was critical to the structural integrity and performance of the fan cowl structure. This impact led to the in-flight separation of fan cowl components, including the inboard fan cowl aft latch keeper, which struck the fuselage near a cabin window and caused the window to depart from the airplane, the cabin to rapidly depressurize, and the passenger fatality.

Source: NTSB case DCA18MA142

Flight crew

No flight-crew details recorded in the NTSB accident database for this event.

Facts as the NTSB records them — GroundCheck adds no judgement. Preliminary records may be revised as the investigation proceeds.

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