NTSB Advisory
National Transportation Safety Board
Washington, DC 20594
October 3, 2007

NTSB INVESTIGATING MD-82 ENGINE FIRE INCIDENT IN ST. LOUIS

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating an incident that occurred on September 28, 2007, in which an engine on an American Airlines MD-82 caught fire shortly after take-off from the Lambert-St. Louis International Airport. The plane returned to the airport and landed safely. The passengers and crew deplaned via air stairs.

None of the passengers or crewmembers was injured. The event is being investigated as an incident.

The flight crew received a left engine fire warning during climb and subsequently discharged the aircraft engine fire bottles into the affected engine. During the visual return and approach, the nose landing gear did not extend. The flight crew then extended the nose landing gear using the emergency landing gear extension procedure. The airplane landed and was met by airport rescue and fire-fighting vehicles.

In addition to determining any mechanical factors involved in this incident, the investigation will include an examination of the evacuation procedures and the response of the airport fire-fighting unit.

The cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder were sent to the Safety Board's laboratory in Washington where the content of each is being evaluated.

Parties to the investigation are the Federal Aviation Administration, American Airlines, Boeing, Pratt and Whitney, and the Allied Pilots Association.

NTSB Media Contact: Peter Knudson
202-314-6100 / peter.knudson@ntsb.gov

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