NTSB Identification: ANC05IA064
Nonscheduled 14 CFR Part 121: Air Carrier operation of WORLD AIRWAYS INC (D.B.A. World Airways)
Incident occurred Thursday, April 28, 2005 in Anchorage, AK
Aircraft: McDonnell Douglas MD-11, registration: N277WA
Injuries: 201 Uninjured.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

On April 28, 2005, about 0530 Alaska daylight time, a Mc Donnell Douglas MD-11 airplane, N277WA, sustained minor damage resulting from an electrical anomaly on the flight deck during normal cruise, about 950 miles southwest of Anchorage, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as Flight 8278, by World Airways, Inc., of Peachtree City, Georgia, as an instrument flight rules (IFR) non-scheduled international passenger flight under Title 14, CFR Part 121, when the incident occurred. The three flight crew members, three reserve flight crew members, 6 cabin crew members, and 189 passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight plan was filed. The flight originated at Osan Air Base, South Korea, and was bound for the Seattle International Airport, Seattle, Washington. The flight departed Osan Air Base April 27, about 2355.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on April 28, the Anchorage FAA Regional Operations Center specialist said the flight crew reported smoke in the cockpit, declared an emergency, and diverted to the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, Anchorage.

During an examination of the airplane's flight deck by maintenance personnel and the IIC on April 28, heat damaged wiring was located in the door post above the locking solenoid of the cockpit security door. According to members of the flight crew, just prior to the smell and visible smoke in the cockpit, there was a crew change that required the cockpit door to be opened and closed.

There were no other system anomalies reported by the flight crew, and the airplane landed without incident. Evaluation of the locking solenoid and associated wiring is pending.

NTSB Preliminary Report

Thanks CD, that certainly is interesting. Glad nobody was hurt. It seems like the MD-11 has an excessive amount of wiring problems.
Barbara