Date: November 12, 1975
Type: Douglas DC-10-30
Registration: N1032F
Operator: Overseas National Airways, Inc
Where: John F. Kennedy International Airport, Jamaica, New York
Report No. NTSB-AAR-76-19
Report Date: December 16, 1976
Pages: 50

At 1310 e.s.t., November 12, 1975, Overseas National Airways Inc. Flight 
032, a Douglas DC-10-30 (N1032F) crashed while attempting to take off 
from runway 13R at JFK Airport, New York. During the takeoff roll, the 
aircraft struck sea gulls and the takeoff was rejected. The right engine 
disintegrated and caught fire; several tires and wheels disintegrated; 
and the aircraft did not decelerate as expected. Near the end of the 
runway, the captain steered the aircraft onto a taxiway; the landing gear 
collapsed, and most of the aircraft was consumed by the fire. Of the 139 
persons on the aircraft, 2 were seriously inured and 30 were slightly 
injured.

The National Transportation Safety Board determined that the probable 
cause of the accident was the disintegration and subsequent fire in the 
No. 3 engine when it ingested a large number of sea gulls. Following the 
disintegration of the engine, the aircraft failed to decelerate 
effectively because: (l) The No. 3 hydraulic system was inoperative, 
which caused the loss of the No. 2 brake system and braking torque to be 
reduced 50 percent; (2) the No. 3 engine thrust reversers were 
inoperative; (3) at least three tires disintegrated; (4) the No. 3 system 
spoiler panels on each wing could not deploy; and (5) the runway surface 
was wet.

The following factors contributed to the accident: (l) The bird-control 
program at JFK Airport did not effectively control the bird hazard on the 
airport; and (2) the FAA and the General Electric Company failed to 
consider the effects of rotor imbalance on the abradable epoxy shroud 
material when the engine was tested for certification.