NTSB · Safety Recommendation
Safety Recommendation A-16-032
Recommendation
TO US OPERATORS OF MD-80 SERIES AIRPLANES(AMERICAN AIRLINES, DELTA AIRLINES, AND ALLEGIANT AIR): Collaborate with the Federal Aviation Administration and Boeing to (1) conduct a study to examine reverse thrust engine pressure ratio (EPR)-related operational data, procedures, and training and (2) identify industry-wide best practices that have been shown to be effective in reliably preventing EPR exceedances to mitigate the risks associated with rudder blanking.
Safety Issue and Context
On March 5, 2015, at 1102 eastern standard time, Delta Air Lines flight 1086, a Boeing MD-88, N909DL, was landing on runway 13 at LaGuardia Airport (LGA), New York, New York, when it departed the left side of the runway, contacted the airport perimeter fence, and came to rest with the airplane’s nose on an embankment next to Flushing Bay. The 2 pilots, 3 flight attendants, and 98 of the 127 passengers were not injured; the other 29 passengers received minor injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged.
Flight 1086 was a regularly scheduled passenger flight from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Atlanta, Georgia, operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121. An instrument flight rules flight plan had been filed. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.
Response History
December 28, 2021 · NTSB Correspondence · Delta Airlines, Inc.
We understand that, although Delta Airlines no longer operates MD-80-series airplanes as of 2020, you addressed the recommendation prior to that. We note that, on January 12, 2017, you participated in a conference with Boeing, the FAA, and other US-based MD-80 operators where conference participants reviewed EPR operational data, training, and procedures and discussed best practices and potential modifications to the existing EPR procedures. As a result of the conference, Boeing made adjustments to the EPR procedures and published a chart showing the potential for rudder blanking based on airspeed and reverse thrust EPR.
You addressed the second part of the recommendation by working with other operators of MD-80-series aircraft to identify best practices, then individually implemented your own internal monitoring program to ensure the effectiveness of the procedures. You also shared the results of your internal monitoring program with the other operators in an ongoing industry-wide collaboration.
Because Delta completed the recommended action, Safety Recommendation A-16-32 is classified CLOSED-- ACCEPTABLE ACTION.
Thank you for your commitment to transportation safety.
October 1, 2021 · Recipient Response · Delta Airlines, Inc.
-From David Garrison, Senior Vice President, Corporate Safety, Security and Compliance: Synopsis Prior to Delta’s retirement of the MD-88 and MD-90 fleets in 2020, Delta partnered with other MD-80 series aircraft operators to hold ongoing collaborative industry meetings to identify and discuss industry-wide best practices for operational data, procedures, and training for the MD-80 series aircraft.
Industry Collaboration Recommendation A-16-32 required operators to identify practices that are effective in reliably preventing EPR exceedances. In November 2016, operators agreed to reemphasize the Boeing procedures and include any new Boeing updates in the appropriate operations manual. Additionally, after reviewing the Boeing provided rudder blanking data and discussions with other operators, Delta identified idle reverse thrust as the initial setting for landing on all runways and if necessary, 1.3EPR as a reverse thrust limit for landing on a wet or contaminated runway.