Accident · 1989-12-30

NTSB case LAX90FA061 · BOEING 737-204 · Part 121

What the record says

Event date: 1989-12-30
Event type: Accident
Highest injury level: Minor injury
Aircraft: BOEING 737-204 (N198AW)
Operating rule: Part 121
Operator: AMERICA WEST AIRLINES Operator named in NTSB report
Operated by (per NTSB report): AMERICA WEST AIRLINES, INC.

Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE OPERATOR'S MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL TO DETECT AN ELECTRICAL WIRE WHICH HAD CHAFED AGAINST A HYDRAULIC LINE AND WHICH EVENTUALLY ARCED CAUSING A LEAK IN THE HYDRAULIC LINE AND SUBSEQUENT FIRE AND HYDRAULIC SYSTEM FAILURE. IN ADDITION, PREVIOUS WEAR OF CHECK VALVES IN THE BACKUP HYDRAULIC SYSTEMS PREVENTED THE AIRPLANE FROM STOPPING ON THE RUNWAY. A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THE AIRPLANE MANUFACTURER'S INADEQUATE GUIDANCE FOR MAINTAINING THE HYDRAULIC COMPONENTS.

Source: NTSB case LAX90FA061

Flight crew

Flight-crew details for this event aren't in the NTSB database extract we hold (its coverage starts with 2008 events) — a gap in our data, not an absence of crew.

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

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