“FIRE! LEFT ENGINE!” HOW SHORT CUTS TO PROCEDURES LED TO A NEAR-DISASTER

This podcast from Aviation Maintenance Magazine explores a near-disaster involving an American Airlines MD-82 flight that experienced an engine fire shortly after takeoff. The podcast highlights the role of maintenance shortcuts and inadequate procedures in leading to the engine fire. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation revealed that the use of improper tools and the failure to follow established maintenance procedures contributed to the incident. The podcast also criticizes the airline’s Continuing Analysis and Surveillance System (CASS) program, which failed to identify and address the systemic issue of recurring engine start failures and ATSV replacements. The NTSB concluded that the probable cause of the near-disaster was maintenance personnel’s use of inappropriate procedures and deficiencies in the airline’s CASS program.