Casualties unknown

Flight Attendant Observes Glowing Tailcone on Engine During Initial Climb (N611AW)

Chicago, IL, US

On July 21, 1993, a British Aerospace 146-300A (registration N611AW) operated by Air Wisconsin, Inc. was involved in an aviation accident near Chicago, IL. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: was a crack in the fuel system fuel flow distribution manifold which resulted from an inadequate design by the manufacturer. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 4 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-06-10Data APIEditorial standards

During initial climbout, a flight attendant observed the tailcone of the number four engine glowing. Power reduction ceased the glow, and the aircraft returned to the departure airport. Inspection revealed a cracked fuel manifold. The manufacturer subsequently modified the manifold design.

Incident Description

During the initial climbout phase, a flight attendant observed that the tailcone of the aircraft's number four engine was glowing. Upon reducing engine power, the glow ceased. The flight crew subsequently returned the aircraft to the departure airport without further incident.

Inspection Findings

Following the aircraft's return, the engine was inspected. The inspection revealed that the fuel manifold was cracked at the scallop radius.

Manufacturer Modification

The manufacturer later introduced a modification to the fuel manifold, increasing the wall thickness at the scallop radius to prevent future cracking. The modified manifold was not installed on the incident aircraft.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001211X12830. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.