NTSB · Safety Recommendation
Safety Recommendation A-88-124
Recommendation
THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION: EVALUATE PROHIBITING THE TRANSPORTATION OF OXIDIZERS IN CARGO COMPARTMENTS THAT DO NOT HAVE FIRE/SMOKE DETECTION AND FIRE EXTINGUISHMENT SYSTEMS, AND DETERMINE IF OTHER CLASSES OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS ALSO SHOULD BE EXCLUDED FROM CARGO COMPARTMENTS WITHOUT THESE SAFETY SYSTEMS.
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
August 23, 1993 · NTSB Correspondence · FAA
THE BOARD NOTED THAT THE FAA AND THE RESEARCH AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS ADMINISTRATION (RSPA) HAVE COMPLETED AN EVALUATION OF THE TRANSPORT OF OXIDIZERS AND OTHER HAZARDOUS MATERIALS BY AIR. THE FAA AND RSPA HAVE CONCLUDED THAT OXIDIZERS AND OTHER CLASSES OF HAZAROUDS MATERIALS THAT ARE AUTHORIZED TO BE TRANSPORTED BY AIR ARE SAFE WHEN PROPERLY PACKAGED, DECLARED, AND SEGREGATED. HOWEVER, THE BOARD NOTES THAT THE FAA AND RSPA ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT UNDECLARED OR HIDDEN SHIPMENTS OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS ARE A THREAT TO SAFETY AND HAVE TAKEN ACTIONS TO IMPROVE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THIS THREAT AND ENFORCEMENT OF THE REGULATIONS.
BASED ON THE FAA'S COMPLETION OF ITS EVALUATION OF THIS SAFETY ISSUE, RECOMMENDATION A-88-124 HAS BEEN CLASSIFIED "CLOSED--ACCEPTABLE ACTION."
June 30, 1993 · Recipient Response · FAA
THE FAA AND RSPA COMPLETED THEIR EVALUATION OF TRANSPORTING OXIDIZERS AND OTHER HAZARDOUS MATERIALS BY AIR. A REVIEW OF INCIDENT DATA INDICATES THAT WHEN PROPERLY PACKAGED, DECLARED, AND SEGREGATED, OXIDIZERS OFFER LITTLE THREAT TO THE TRAVELING PUBLIC. THE FAA BELIEVES THAT ADDDITIONAL RULEMAKING TO PROHIBIT OXIDIZERS IS NOT JUSTIFIED BASED ON THE CURRENT INCIDENT STATISTICS. THE FAA BELIEVES THAT EDUCATING THE TRAVELING PUBLIC OF THE HAZARDS POSED WHEN UNDECLARED SHIPMENTS ARE CARRIED ON BOARD AIRCRAFT IS A MORE APPROPRIATE APPROACH TO ADDRESS THIS SAFETY ISSUE.
April 19, 1993 · NTSB Correspondence · FAA
We classified Safety Recommendations A-88-122 through -124 as "Open--Acceptable Action" and Safety Recommendation A-88-127 as "Open--Unacceptable Action" on July 20, 1990, based on the FAA's letter of January 5, 1989. Our records show that we have not received any further response from the FAA regarding these recommendations. We would appreciate being informed about efforts that have been or are being made to implement these safety recommendations. Copies of the recommendation letter and related correspondence are enclosed for your information.