1 fatal · BOEING 737 7H4 · 2018-04-17 · Philadelphia, PA, USA
Event
NTSB number
DCA18MA142
Event ID
20180417X23642
Type
Accident
Date
2018-04-17
Location
Philadelphia, PA, USA
Coordinates
39.871944, -75.239997
Injuries
Highest injury
FATL
Fatal
1
Serious
8
Minor
125
Uninjured
6
Total aboard
140
Aircraft
Make
BOEING
Model
737 7H4
Registration
N772SW
FAR Part
121
Engines
2
Damage
SUBS
Conditions
Light
DAYL
Weather
VMC
Probable cause
A low-cycle fatigue crack in the dovetail of fan blade No. 13, which resulted in the fan blade separating in flight and impacting the engine fan case at a location that was critical to the structural integrity and performance of the fan cowl structure. This impact led to the in-flight separation of fan cowl components, including the inboard fan cowl aft latch keeper, which struck the fuselage near a cabin window and caused the window to depart from the airplane, the cabin to rapidly depressurize, and the passenger fatality.