A commercial aircraft fire occurred during servicing of the passenger oxygen system. Three crew members, four flight attendants, and twelve passengers were on board the plane when the fire erupted. All passengers and crew were evacuated safely. Shortly after the preboarding of passengers had begun, a sound described as a muffled "bang" or "boom" came from an area near the forward galley. Within seconds, thick black smoke started to fill the cabin, and flames began to burn through the forward right side of the fuselage. Witnesses saw a 3- to 4-ft (1- to 1.2-m) flame extending sideways from the fuselage on the forward right side of the airplane. A hole several feet in diameter burned through the fuselage just behind the right forward-galley service door.
The passenger oxygen system is located in the forward right side of the airplane. The system is composed of two oxygen cylinders, each charged initially to a pressure of 1,850 psia (12.8 MPa). The cylinders supply oxygen through steel tubing to the flow control unit that reduces the pressure of the oxygen and controls its flow to the passenger masks. During a preflight inspection of the airplane, a mechanic found that the quantity of oxygen in the cylinders was below the acceptable level and, therefore, changed the cylinders. He said that as he was about to leave the area, he saw a flash of white light that enveloped the oxygen system flow control unit.
For additional information, contact Joel Stoltzfus, (575) 524-5731.
