NTSB Recommending Fire Suppression Systems on All Cargo Airplanes

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is recommending that the FAA require all cargo airplanes operating under Part 121 of the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations install fire suppression systems.  The Board says its recommendation is a result of its investigation of a UPS DC-8 cargo fire in Philadelphia last year.

On February 7, 2006, the DC-8-71F landed at Philadelphia after cargo smoke was indicated in the cockpit.  The crew evacuated from the airplane after landing, but sustained minor injuries in the process, and the airplane and most of the cargo were destroyed in the ensuing fire.

The Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident was a fire initiated from an unknown source - but lithium batteries were suspected - within one of the cargo containers.

The Board said its review of certification requirements revealed that the current test standards and guidance for cargo aircraft smoke or fire detection systems on many aircraft were inadequate, because they don't account for how cargo containers can restrict airflow around the detection sensors in cargo compartments, or that smoke might not escape a container in a fire's initial stages.  In other words, cargo containers can restrict airflow, which likely inhibited the detection of a smoldering fire, such as this one.

Besides recommending the installation of fire suppression systems on some cargo aircraft, the Board recommended changes in certification requirements for smoke and fire detection system tests, for guidance and checklists relating to in-flight fire and smoke, on rescue and firefighting training, on cargo airplane emergency exit requirements, on hazardous materials information and dissemination procedures, and on how lithium batteries are transported on aircraft.

A synopsis of the Board's report, including the probable cause and recommendations, is available on the NTSB's website, www.ntsb.gov, under "Board Meetings."  The Board's full report will be available on the Website in several weeks.  12-09-2007.

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