Date:	11-FEB-1987
Time:	23:17
Type:	Boeing 747-122
Owner/operator:	United Airlines
Registration:	N4718U
C/n / msn:	19879/139
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 241
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	None
Category:	Accident
Location:	Detroit, MI -   United States of America
Phase:	Standing
Nature:	Passenger - Scheduled
Departure airport:	ORD
Destination airport:	EWR
Investigating agency:	NTSB

Narrative:
DRG FLT, UNITED FLT 108 RECD INFO OF A BOMB THREAT. DUE TO A SHORT TIME LIMIT, SPECIFIED IN THE THREAT, THE FLT DIVERTEDTO DETROIT & THE SLIDES WERE USED TO EVACUATE THE AIRCRAFT; 8 OF 10 SLIDES DEPLOYED NMLY & WERE USED. THE SLIDE AT DOOR 4R DIDN'T INFLATE & WASN'T USED. THE FLT ATTENDANT (F/A) AT DOOR 5R PERCEIVED THAT THE SLIDE (SLIDE/RAFT) AT THAT LCTN WAS INFLATING SLOWLY. SHE PULLED WHAT SHE THOUGHT WAS THE MANUAL INFLATION HANDLE (MIH) & HEARD A HISSING SOUND. SHE THEN SENT 2 HELPERS (PAX) DWN THE SLIDE. AS THEY EGRESSED, THE SLIDE SEPD FM THE AIRCRAFT & FELL TO THE GND; 1 OF THE 2 RECD A SERIOUS BACK INJURY. AS OTR SLIDES WERE USED, 2 OTR PAX RECD SERIOUS LEG INJURIES & 16 PAX RECD MINOR INJURIES. AN INV REVEALED THE F/A AT DOOR 5R INADVERTENTLY PULLED THE RELEASE HANDLE (RH) WHEN SHE ATMTD TO USE THE MIH. BOTH HANDLES WERE MADE OF CANVAS MTRL & WERE ABOUT THE SAME SIZE. THE MIH WAS RED WITH A PIECE OF WHITE MTRL MARKED 'PULL' IN RED LTRS; THE RH WAS WHITE & WAS ALSO MARKED 'PULL' IN RED LTRS. NO REASON WAS FND FOR THE SLIDE AT DOOR 4R NOT TO ENFLATE.

NTSB

Safety recommendation A-88-106 issued 21 September 1988 by NTSB to FAA
Safety recommendation A-88-107 issued 21 September 1988 by NTSB to FAA
Safety recommendation A-88-108 issued 21 September 1988 by NTSB to FAA

Photo of N4718U courtesy AirHistory.net

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