On June 6, 1979, after a series of postaccident inspections disclosed damaged aft bulkheads in the wing to engine pylons, the Administrator of the FAA issued an Emergency Order of Suspension. The Order suspended the DC-10 series aircraft type certificate "until such time as it can be ascertained that the DC-10 aircraft meets the certification criteria of Part 25 of the FAR and is eligible for a Type Certificate."
On June 26, 1979, the FAA issued Special Federal Aviation Regulation 40 which prohibited the "operation of any Model DC-10 aircraft within the airspace of the United States."
On July 13, 1979, after a series of formal investigations, the Administrator found that the DC-10 met the requirements for issuance of a type certificate. Accordingly, the Emergency Order of Suspension was terminated.
In November 1979 the FAA fined American Airlines $500,000 for using a faulty maintenance procedure on its DC-10 aircraft by using forklift trucks to mate the complete engine/pylon assembly with wing attachment points. Continental Airlines was fined $100,000 on a similar charge.
FAA issued 1
NTSB issued 12 Safety Recommendations
Issued: 27-MAY-1979 | To: | A-79-41 |
ISSUE IMMEDIATELY AN EMERGENCY AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE TO INSPECT ALL PYLON ATTACH POINTS ON ALL DC-10 AIRCRAFT BY APPROVED INSPECTION METHODS. (Closed - Acceptable Action) |
Issued: 04-JUN-1979 | To: | A-79-45 |
ISSUE A TELEGRAPHIC AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE TO REQUIRE AN IMMEDIATE INSPECTION OF ALL DC-10 AIRCRAFT IN WHICH AN ENGINE PYLON ASSEMBLY HAS BEEN REMOVED AND REINSTALLED FOR DAMAGE TO THE WING-MOUNTED PYLON AFT BULKHEAD, INCLUDING ITS FORWARD FLANGE AND THE ATTACHING SPAR WEB AND FASTERNERS. REQUIRE REMOVAL OF ANY SEALANT WHICH MAY HIDE A CRACK IN THE FLANGE AREA AND EMPLOY EDDY-CURRENT OR OTHER APPROVED TECHNIQUES TO ENSURE DETECTION OF SUCH DAMAGE. (Closed - Acceptable Action) |
Issued: 04-JUN-1979 | To: | A-79-46 |
ISSUE A MAINTENANCE ALERT BULLETIN DIRECTING FAA MAINTENANCE INSPECTORS TO CONTACT THEIR ASSIGNED CARRIERS AND ADVISE THEM TO IMMEDIATELY DISCONTINUE THE PRATICE OF LOWERING AND RAISING THE PYLON WITH THE ENGINE STILL ATTACHED. CARRIERS SHOULD ADHERE TO THE PROCEDURE RECOMMENDED BY THE DOUGLAS AIRCRAFT COMPANY SERVICE BULLETIN WHICH INCLUDE REMOVING THE ENGINE FROM THE PYLON BEFORE REMOVING THE PYLON FROM THE WING. (Closed - Acceptable Action) |
Issued: 22-JUN-1979 | To: | A-79-52 |
ISSUE A MAINTENANCE ALERT BULLETIN TO U.S. CERTIFICATED AIR CARRIERS, AND NOTIFY STATES THAT HAVE REGULATORY RESPONSIBILITIES OVER FOREIGN AIR CARRIERS OPERATING DC-10 AIRCRAFT, TO REQUIRE APPROPRIATE STRUCTURAL INSPECTIONS OF THE ENGINE PYLONS FOLLOWING ENGINE FAILURES INVOLVING SIGNIFICANT IMBALANCE CONDITIONS OR SEVERE SIDE LOADS. (Closed - Acceptable Alternate Action) |
Issued: 26-JUN-1979 | To: | SFAR No.40 |
Special Federal Aviation Regulation 40 prohibited the "operation of any Model DC-10 aircraft within the airspace of the United States." |
Issued: 21-DEC-1979 | To: FAA | A-79-100 |
INITIATE AND CONTINUE STRICT AND COMPREHENSIVE SURVEILLANCE EFFORTS IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS (Closed - Unacceptable Action) |
Issued: 21-DEC-1979 | To: FAA | A-79-101 |
ASSURE THAT THE MAINTENANCE REVIEW BOARD FULLY CONSIDERS THE FOLLOWING ELEMENTS WHEN IT APPROVES AN AIRLINE/MANUFACTURER MAINTENANCE PROGRAM (Closed - Unacceptable Action) |
Issued: 21-DEC-1979 | To: FAA | A-79-102 |
REQUIRE THAT AIR CARRIER MAINTENANCE FACILITIES AND OTHER DESIGNATED REPAIR STATIONS (Closed - Unacceptable Action) |
Issued: 21-DEC-1979 | To: FAA | A-79-103 |
REVISE 14 CFR 121.707 TO MORE CLEARLY DEFINE "MAJOR" AND "MINOR" REPAIR CATEGORIES TO INSURE THAT THE REPORTING REQUIREMENT WILL INCLUDE ANY REPAIR OF DAMAGE TO A COMPONENT IDENTIFIED AS "STRUCTURALLY SIGNIFICANT." (Closed - Unacceptable Action) |
Issued: 21-DEC-1979 | To: FAA | A-79-104 |
EXPAND THE SCOPE OF SURVEILLANCE OF AIR CARRIER MAINTENANCE BY (Closed - Unacceptable Action) |
Issued: 21-DEC-1979 | To: FAA | A-79-105 |
REVISE OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES AND INSTRUMENTATION TO INCREASE STALL MARGIN DURING SECONDARY EMERGENCIES BY (Closed - Acceptable Action) |
Issued: 21-DEC-1979 | To: FAA | A-79-98 |
INCORPORATE IN TYPE CERTIFICATION PROCEDURES FULL CONSIDERATION OF (Closed - Acceptable Action) |
Issued: 21-DEC-1979 | To: FAA | A-79-99 |
INSURE THAT THE DESIGN OF TRANSPORT CATEGORY AIRCRAFT PROVIDES POSITIVE PROTECTION AGAINST ASYMMETRY OF LIFT DEVICES DURING CRITICAL PHASES OF FLIGHT; OR, IF CERTIFICATION IS BASED UPON DEMONSTRATED CONTROLLABILITY OF THE AIRCRAFT UNDER CONDITION OF ASYMMETRY, INSURE THAT ASYMMETRIC WARNING SYSTEMS, STALL WARNING SYSTEMS, OR OTHER CRITICAL SYSTEMS NEEDED TO PROVIDE THE PILOT WITH INFORMATION ESSENTIAL TO SAFE FLIGHT ARE COMPLETELY REDUNDANT. (Closed - Unacceptable Action) |
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This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does
not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Chicago-O'Hare International Airport, IL to Los Angeles International Airport, CA as the crow flies is 2783 km (1739 miles).
Accident location: Exact; as reported in the official accident report.
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.