On April 16, 2003, a Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-82 (MD-82) (registration N452AA) was involved in an aviation accident near Dfw Airport, TX. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The smoke was caused when the APU ingested hydraulic fluid that leaked from the pump after APU start-up. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An airplane's cabin filled with smoke shortly after the APU was started during taxi. The captain ordered an evacuation, during which a passenger broke their right ankle. Investigation traced the smoke to hydraulic fluid ingestion by the APU.
Incident Summary
While taxiing after landing, the flight crew initiated the auxiliary power unit (APU). Shortly thereafter, smoke began to fill the passenger cabin. The captain issued an emergency evacuation order.
Evacuation
All emergency slides deployed and operated normally. During the evacuation process, one passenger suffered a broken right ankle.
Examination Findings
Post-incident examination of the aircraft revealed that the smoke originated from the APU. Specifically, after the APU started, hydraulic fluid leaked from the pump and was ingested by the unit, producing the smoke that entered the cabin.
Probable cause
The smoke was caused when the APU ingested hydraulic fluid that leaked from the pump after APU start-up.