# Trans-Air Service Flight 671

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1992 aviation accident over France

Trans-Air Service Flight 671 A photograph taken by the first officer in the cockpit; shows the damage to the right wing Accident Date 31 March 1992 (1992-03-31) Summary In-flight separation of two engines due to metal fatigue Site Séderon, Drôme, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France Aircraft 5N-MAS, the aircraft involved, pictured 3 days before the accident Aircraft type Boeing 707-321C Operator Trans-Air Service on behalf of Kabo Air IATA flight No. N9671 ICAO flight No. QNK671 Call sign KABO 671 Registration 5N-MAS Flight origin Luxembourg Airport Destination Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport Occupants 5 Crew 5 Fatalities 0 Injuries 0 Survivors 5

**Trans-Air Service Flight 671** was a cargo flight from [Luxembourg Airport](/source/Luxembourg_Airport) to [Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport](/source/Mallam_Aminu_Kano_International_Airport) in [Kano, Nigeria](/source/Kano%2C_Nigeria). While flying over France on 31 March 1992, the [Boeing 707](/source/Boeing_707) operating the flight experienced an in-flight separation of two engines on its right wing. Despite the damage to the aircraft, the pilots were able to perform an emergency landing at [Istres-Le Tubé Air Base](/source/Istres-Le_Tub%C3%A9_Air_Base) in [Istres, France](/source/Istres%2C_France). All five occupants of the aircraft survived, but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair due to a fire on the right wing.

## Aircraft and crew

### Aircraft

The aircraft was a 28-year-old [Boeing 707-321C](/source/Boeing_707-321C), serial number 18718. It had been manufactured in April 1964 and was first delivered to [Pan Am](/source/Pan_American_World_Airways) at end of the month, with the registration number N794PA. During its tenure with Pan Am, it was initially named *Clipper Undaunted*, and was later renamed *Clipper African Queen*. It had accumulated 60,985 flight hours over 17,907 flights. It was powered by four [Pratt & Whitney JT3D-3B](/source/Pratt_%26_Whitney_JT3D-3B) engines. During its history, the aircraft's owner and registration had changed multiple times; at the time of the accident, it was registered 5N-MAS and operated for Nigerian operator [Trans-Air Service](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Trans-Air_Service&action=edit&redlink=1).[1]

### Crew

The captain was 57-year-old Swedish national Ingemar Berglund; he had a total of approximately 26,000 hours of flying experience, including 7,100 on the Boeing 707. The [first officer](/source/First_officer_(aviation)) was 44-year-old British national Martin Emery; he had approximately 14,000 hours of flying experience, including 4,500 on the Boeing 707. The [flight engineer](/source/Flight_engineer) was 55-year-old British national Terry Boone; he had approximately 18,000 hours of flying experience, all on the Boeing 707. A mechanic and a cargo supervisor were also on board the flight.[1][2][3] The mechanic was 36-year-old Nigerian national Ike Nwabudike, and the cargo supervisor was 27-year-old Icelandic national Ingvar Einarsson.

Crew by nationality Nationality Crew Sweden 1 United Kingdom 2 Nigeria 1 Iceland 1 Total 5

## Accident

The flight departed [Luxembourg Airport](/source/Luxembourg_Airport) at 07:14 [UTC](/source/UTC) (9:14 am local time) on 31 March 1992; it was carrying 38 tonnes of freight and was destined for [Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport](/source/Mallam_Aminu_Kano_International_Airport) near [Kano, Nigeria](/source/Kano%2C_Nigeria). At approximately 08:11, while the aircraft was climbing through 32,000 feet (9,800 m) over the [Drôme](/source/Dr%C3%B4me) department in southeastern France, the crew noticed severe turbulence and heard a loud "double bang"; the aircraft subsequently began to roll to the right. Captain Berglund then disengaged the [autopilot](/source/Autopilot) and used control column and rudder inputs to regain control of the aircraft. In addition, the fire warning was continuously audible and could not be switched off by the flight engineer. First Officer Emery observed that the number 4 engine (the right-most of the aircraft's four engines) had detached from the wing and sent out a [mayday](/source/Mayday) call. Emery then noticed that the number 3 engine (the inner engine on the right wing) had also detached from the wing. Captain Berglund started descending towards [Marseille](/source/Marseille_Provence_Airport) while Flight Engineer Boone began dumping fuel in preparation for an emergency landing.[1][4]

During the descent, the crew noticed an airfield ahead; this was [Istres-Le Tubé Air Base](/source/Istres-Le_Tub%C3%A9_Air_Base) in [Istres, France](/source/Istres%2C_France). The crew then decided to land on runway 15 at Istres; this required a left hand circuit prior to landing. This left turn proved to be very challenging for Captain Berglund given the damage to the aircraft's flight controls; the [cockpit voice recorder](/source/Cockpit_voice_recorder) showed that First Officer Emery was encouraging Berglund by repeating the words "left turn" six times. Shortly before landing, the air traffic controller observed a fire on the aircraft.[1][4]

The aircraft made an emergency landing at Istres at 08:35 (10:35 am local time), approximately 24 minutes after the initial engine separation. During the landing roll, the aircraft ran off the left side of the runway. After the aircraft came to a stop, the crew noticed that there was a fire on the aircraft's right wing. All five occupants of the aircraft survived without any injuries; nonetheless, there was considerable fire damage to the right wing. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.[1][4]

## Investigation

Following the incident, engines number 3 and 4 were located near [Séderon](/source/S%C3%A9deron), [Drôme](/source/Dr%C3%B4me).[5] Investigators found that [metal fatigue](/source/Metal_fatigue) had caused a crack to develop in the pylon that held the number 3 engine (the right inboard engine) to the wing. This weakened the pylon such that it broke on the accident flight, leading to separation of the number 3 engine. As it detached from the wing, the separated number 3 engine struck the number 4 engine, causing it to separate as well. In addition, an [airworthiness directive](/source/Airworthiness_directive) that required periodic inspections of the pylons was found to be ineffective in detecting such fatigue cracks.[1][4]

## Aftermath

In response to the accident, the French BEA ([Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety](/source/Bureau_of_Enquiry_and_Analysis_for_Civil_Aviation_Safety)) recommended modification to the inspection procedures for engine pylons so that fatigue cracks could be detected more easily. The BEA also recommended that air traffic controllers receive regular training for emergency situations by theoretical study and by performing practical exercises.[1]

The year after the incident, the crew received the *Hugh Gordon-Burge Memorial Award* from the [Honourable Company of Air Pilots](/source/Honourable_Company_of_Air_Pilots).[2][3]

## In popular culture

The events of Trans-Air Service Flight 671 were featured in the 2022 episode "[Double Trouble](/source/List_of_Mayday_episodes#ep194)", of the Canadian documentary TV series *[Mayday](/source/Mayday_(Canadian_TV_series))*.[6]

## See also

- [Nigeria portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Nigeria)
- [France portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:France)
- [Aviation portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Aviation)

Other incidents involving engine or propeller separation:

- [Omega Aerial Refueling Services Flight 70](/source/Omega_Aerial_Refueling_Services_Flight_70) - another Boeing 707 accident caused by an engine separating and striking the other engine on the same wing

- [American Airlines Flight 191](/source/American_Airlines_Flight_191) - engine separation on takeoff and subsequent crash

- [El Al Flight 1862](/source/El_Al_Flight_1862) and [China Airlines Flight 358](/source/China_Airlines_Flight_358) - two other instances of in-flight engine separations resulting in fatal crashes

- [Reeve Aleutian Airways Flight 8](/source/Reeve_Aleutian_Airways_Flight_8) - in-flight propeller separation that damaged flight controls, but the aircraft was able to safely make an emergency landing

- [Japan Air Lines Cargo Flight 46E](/source/Japan_Air_Lines_Cargo_Flight_46E) - in-flight engine separation, but the crew was able to make an emergency landing

- [1991 Gulf War Boeing KC-135 accident](/source/1991_Gulf_War_Boeing_KC-135_accident) - a close relative of the Boeing 707 that had an in-flight engine separation, but managed to make an emergency landing. The in-flight engine separation was attributed to wake turbulence from a passing KC-135.

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-I_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-I_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-I_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-I_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-I_1-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-I_1-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-I_1-6) ["RAPPORT relatif à l'accident survenu le 31 mars 1992 au Boeing 707 immatriculé 5N-MAS (Nigéria) exploité par la Compagnie Trans-Air Limited"](https://www.bea.aero/docspa/1992/5n-s920331/htm/5n-s920331.html) [REPORT relating to the accident on March 31, 1992 to the Boeing 707 registered 5N-MAS (Nigeria) operated by the Compagnie Trans-Air Limited] (in French). [Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety](/source/Bureau_of_Enquiry_and_Analysis_for_Civil_Aviation_Safety). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20211012022010/https://www.bea.aero/docspa/1992/5n-s920331/htm/5n-s920331.html) from the original on 12 October 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2021. - [PDF version](https://bea.aero/fileadmin/uploads/tx_elydbrapports/5N-MAS.pdf)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-II_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-II_2-1) [""Nous avons perdu les deux moteurs droits !""](https://web.archive.org/web/20050111005503/http://leszazas.free.fr/ciel/histoires/cargo.html) [We have lost the two right engines!] (in French). Archived from [the original](http://leszazas.free.fr/ciel/histoires/cargo.html) on 11 January 2005. Retrieved 26 June 2021.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-IV_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-IV_3-1) ["The Hugh Gordon-Burge Memorial Award"](https://web.archive.org/web/20211113233031/https://www.airpilots.org/what-we-do/trophies-and-awards/award-winners/the-hugh-gordon-burge-memorial-award/). [Honourable Company of Air Pilots](/source/Honourable_Company_of_Air_Pilots). Archived from [the original](https://www.airpilots.org/what-we-do/trophies-and-awards/award-winners/the-hugh-gordon-burge-memorial-award/) on 13 November 2021. Retrieved 27 June 2021.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-III_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-III_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-III_4-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-III_4-3) Ranter, Harro. ["ASN Aircraft accident Boeing 707-321C 5N-MAS Istres"](https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19920331-0). *aviation-safety.net*. [Aviation Safety Network](/source/Aviation_Safety_Network). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20171211104956/http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19920331-0) from the original on 11 December 2017. Retrieved 26 June 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["RAPPORT relatif à l'accident survenu le 31 mars 1992 au Boeing 707 immatriculé 5N-MAS (Nigéria) exploité par la Compagnie Trans-Air Limited"](https://bea.aero/docspa/1992/5n-s920331/htm/5n-s920331.html#_Toc441995707). *Bureau d'Enquêtes et d'Analyses*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Mayday_6-0)** "[Double Trouble](/source/List_of_Mayday_episodes#ep194)". [*Mayday*](/source/Mayday_(Canadian_TV_series)). Season 22. Episode 4. [Cineflix](/source/Cineflix). 2022-01-22. [Discovery Channel Canada](/source/Discovery_(Canada)).

## External links

- [Final report concerning the accident occurred on 31 March, 1992, to the BOEING 707 registered 5N-MAS (Nigeria) - Trans-Air Limited Company.](https://bea.aero/fileadmin/uploads/tx_elydbrapports/5N-MAS-EN.pdf) - English translation of final report - Note that the French version is the version of record.

v t e Aviation accidents and incidents in 1992 (1992) Jan 3 CommutAir Flight 4821 Jan 7 ECMM helicopter shootdown Jan 20 Air Inter Flight 148 Jan 28 Azerbaijani Mil Mi-8 shootdown Feb 14 Aerolíneas Argentinas Flight 386 Feb 15 Air Transport International Flight 805 Mar 22 USAir Flight 405 Mar 30 Aviaco Flight 231 Mar 31 Trans-Air Service Flight 671 Jun 6 Copa Airlines Flight 201 Jun 7 American Eagle Flight 5456 Jun 8 GP Express Airlines Flight 861 Jul 20 Tbilisi Tupolev Tu-154 crash Jul 24 Mandala Airlines Flight 660 Jul 30 TWA Flight 843 Jul 31 Thai Airways International Flight 311 Jul 31 China General Aviation Flight 7552 Aug 27 Aeroflot Flight 2808 Aug 27 Gimli DHC-4 Caribou crash Sep 4 Vietnam Airlines Flight 850 Sep 26 Nigerian Air Force C-130 crash Sep 28 Pakistan International Airlines Flight 268 Oct 4 El Al Flight 1862 Oct 18 Merpati Nusantara Airlines Flight 5601 Nov 14 Vietnam Airlines Flight 474 Nov 15 Aero Caribbean Ilyushin Il-18 crash Nov 24 China Southern Airlines Flight 3943 Dec 14 Russian Air Force Mil Mi-8 shootdown Dec 21 Martinair Flight 495 Dec 22 Libyan Arab Airlines Flight 1103 1991 ◄ ► 1993

v t e Aviation accidents and incidents in France between 1950 and 1999 1950s Air India Flight 245 (November 1950) Tête de l'Obiou C-54 crash (November 1950) Air France SNCASE Languedoc crash (March 1952) Air France Flight 178 (September 1953) Hijacking of the FLN plane (October 1956)* Linee Aeree Italiane Flight 451 (November 1956) TAI Flight 307 (September 1959) 1960s Air France Flight 406 (May 1961)* Derby Aviation crash (October 1961) Air France Flight 007 (3 June 1962) Air France Flight 117 (22 June 1962)^ Malév Flight 355 (November 1962) Air Nautic Boeing 307 crash (December 1962) Air Inter Flight 2611 (August 1963) Air Nautic Vickers Viking crash (September 1963) Air India Flight 101 (January 1966) Air Ferry DC-4 accident (June 1967) Air France Flight 212 (6 March 1968)^ Sainte-Marie Douglas DC-6 crash (9 March 1968)^ Air France Flight 1611 (September 1968) 1970s Pakistan International Airlines Flight 712 (December 1971) Air Inter Flight 696Y (October 1972) Nantes mid-air collision (March 1973) Paris Air Show Tupolev Tu-144 crash (June 1973) Varig Flight 820 (11 July 1973) Pan Am Flight 816 (22 July 1973)^ Turkish Airlines Flight 981 (March 1974) TWA Flight 355 (September 1976) 1980s Aer Lingus Flight 164 (May 1981) Inex-Adria Aviopromet Flight 1308 (December 1981) Air Littoral Flight 1919 (December 1987) TAT Flight 230 (March 1988) Air France Flight 296Q (June 1988) 1990s Air Tahiti Flight 805 (April 1991)^ Air Inter Flight 148 (January 1992) Trans-Air Service Flight 671 (March 1992) Lufthansa CityLine Flight 5634 (January 1993) Airbus Industrie Flight 129 (June 1994) Air France Flight 8969 (December 1994) Proteus Airlines Flight 706 (July 1998) ^ Occurred in overseas departments and overseas territories * Occurred in French Algeria, now an independent country 1785–1949 ◄ 1950–1999 ► 2000–

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Trans-Air Service Flight 671](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trans-Air_Service_Flight_671) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trans-Air_Service_Flight_671?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.