Turkish airlines flight 981

Summary

• 3 March 1974
• McDonnell Douglas DC-10-10, TC-JAV
• 346 fatalities
• Paris Orly to London Heathrow
• Investigated by AAIB and BEA

INVESTIGATION

• Aft cargo door blew off
• Depressurization, no.2 engine out
• Excessive bank, nose-down, high speed
• 81 hours from last C-check

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findings

• Failure to follow SB 52-37
• THY modification non-compliant with SB 52-38
• No visual inspection to see if lock pins were properly engaged
• No lessons learnt from Windsor accident 1972

Recommendations

• Modification to cargo door and locking mechanism
• Modification to preserve floor in depressurization
• Issue of AD to be used in safety critical cases
• Training of maintenance personnel to be improvized

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