MIA88FA138

Factual narrative

THE CAPTAIN OF THE BOEING 727 AIRCRAFT WAS AWARE THAT A REFUELER WAS UTILIZING KNOWN QUANTITY REFUELING PROCEDURES DUE TO AN INOPERATIVE FUEL GUAGE. HE ALLOWED THE FLIGHT ENGINEER TO ACTIVATE THE B HYDRAULIC SYSTEM AND THE GROUND INTERCONNECT SWITCH, WITHOUT POSITIVELY ASSURING THAT GND PERSONNEL WERE CLEAR OF THE LEADING EDGE SLATS.AT THE SAME TIME THE REFUELER WAS HAVING DIFFICULTY WITH THE FUELING SYSTEM. THE REFUELER CLIMBED ON A LADDER TO OPEN A FUEL PANEL WITHOUT TELLING ANYBODY. WHEN THE B HYDRAULIC SYSTEM WAS ACTIVATED, THE SLATS RETRACTED CRUSHING THE NECK OF THE REFUELER BETWEEN THE WING AND THE TRAILING EDGE OF A SLAT. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12