NTSB · Safety Recommendation
Safety Recommendation A-88-120
Recommendation
THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE RESEARCH AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS ADMINISTRATION: REQUIRE HAZARDOUS MATERIALS RESTRICTION NOTICES TO BE POSTED AT ALL AIR TRANSPORTATION FREIGHT ACCEPTANCE FACILITIES INCLUDING AIR FREIGHT FORWARDER FACILITIES.
Safety Issue and Context
ON FEBRUARY 3, 1988, AMERICAN AIRLINES FLIGHT 132, A MCDONNELL DOUGLAS DC-9-83, DEPARTED DALLAS/FORT WORTH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, TEXAS, FOR NASHVILLE METROPOLITAN AIRPORT, TENNESSEE. IN ADDITION TO THE PASSENGER LUGGAGE IN THE MIDCARGO COMPARTMENT, FLIGHT 132 WAS LOADED WITH A 104 POUND FIBER DRUM OF TEXTILE TREATMENT CHEMICALS. UNDECLARED AND IMPROPERLY PACKAGED HAZARDOUS MATERIALS INSIDE THE FIBER DRUM INCLUDED 5 GALLONS OF HYDROGEN PEROXIDE SOLUTION AND 25 POUNDS OF A SODIUM ORTHOSILICATE-BASED MIXTURE. WHILE IN FLIGHT, A FLIGHT ATTENDANT AND A DEADHEADING FIRST OFFICER NOTIFIED THE COCKPIT CREW OF SMOKE IN THE PASSENGER CABIN.
THE PASSENGER CABIN FLOOR ABOVE THE CARGO COMPARTMENT WAS HOT AND SOFT, AND THE FLIGHT ATTENDANTS HAD TO MOVE PASSENGERS FROM THE AFFECTED AREA. THE CAPTAIN, WHO WAS AWARE OF A MECHANICAL DISCREPANCY WITH THE AUXILIARY POWER UNIT (APU) ON AN EARLIER FLIGHT WHICH RESULTED IN IN-FLIGHT FUMES, WAS SKEPTICAL ABOUT THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT'S REPORT OF SMOKE. NO IN-FLIGHT EMERGENCY WAS DECLARED. AFTER LANDING, THE CAPTAIN NOTIFIED NASHVILLE GROUND CONTROL ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF FIRE IN THE CARGO COMPARTMENT, AND HE REQUESTED FIRE EQUIPMENT. THE FLIGHT ATTENDANTS THEN INITIATED PROCEDURES TO EVACUATE THE AIRPLANE ON THE TAXIWAY.
ABOUT 2 MINUTES 8 SECONDS AFTER THE PLANE LANDED, THE 120 PASSENGERS AND 6 CREWMEMBERS BEGAN EVACUATING THE AIRPLANE. AFTER THE PLANE WAS EVACUATED, CRASH/FIRE/RESCUE PERSONNEL EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE IN THE CARGO COMPARTMENT.
Response History
April 1, 1994 · NTSB Correspondence · RSPA
THE BOARD NOTES THAT THE FINAL RULES PUBLISHED UNDER DOCKET HM-166X ON 9/27/93, AMEND 49 CFR 175.26 TO REQUIRE THE POSTING & DISPLAY OF NOTICES PERTAINING TO THE TRANSPORTATION OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS BY AIRCRAFT AT ALL AIR FREIGHT TRANSPORTATION ACCEPTANCE FACILITIES, INCLUDING AIR FREIGHT FORWARDERS, AFTER 9/30/94. BECAUSE OF THIS SATISFACTORY REGULATORY ACTION, A-88-120 IS CLASSIFIED "CLOSED--ACCEPTABLE ACTION."
February 15, 1994 · Recipient Response · RSPA
A FINAL RULE WAS PUBLISHED ON SEPTEMBER 27, 1993, UNDER DOCKET HM-166X, WHICH ADDRESSED THE POINTS RAISED IN [SAFETY RECOMMENDATION] A-88-120 IN A NEW SECTION 175.26.
September 23, 1993 · NTSB Correspondence · RSPA
THE BOARD IS AWARE THAT A NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING (NPRM) UNDER DOCKET HM-166X WAS PUBLISHED IN AUGUST 1991, AND NOTES THAT RSPA PLANS TO ISSUE A FINAL RULE THIS FALL. PENDING THE PUBLICATION OF THE FINAL RULE, RECOMMENDATION A-88-120 REMAINS CLASSIFIED "OPEN--ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE."
August 23, 1993 · Recipient Response · RSPA
A NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING UNDER THE DOCKET HM-166X ADDRESSED THE POINTS IN A-88-120, AND WAS PUBLISHED IN AUGUST 1991. RSPA PLANS TO ISSUE A FINAL RULE THIS FALL [1993].