Was Checking For Oil Leak When Pulled Into Engine

The mechanic who was sucked into the right turbofan of a Continental Airlines 737 Monday was checking for an oil leak on the engine when the accident occurred, according to the FAA preliminary report on the accident.

Donald Gene Buchanan, a 64-year-old contract mechanic from El Paso, was pulled into the engine when it spooled up, according to the Denton (TX) Record Chronicle, apparently as part of a maintenance check.

A National Transportation Safety Board spokeswoman said Monday that there had been an earlier problem with the engine Buchanan was working on -- so its cowling was removed at the time of the accident.

Officials with the FAA and the NTSB are handling the investigation.

*******

IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: COA1515        Make/Model: B737      Description: 737
  Date: 01/16/2006     Time: 1606

  Event Type: Accident   Highest Injury: Fatal     Mid Air: N    Missing: N
  Damage: Unknown

LOCATION
  City: EL PASO   State: TX   Country: US

DESCRIPTION
  CONTINENTAL AIRLINES, COA1515, A BOEING 737 ACFT, WAS AT THE GATE BOARDING
  PASSENGERS WHEN A GROUND CREW MECHANIC WAS FATALLY INJURED WHILE CHECKING
  THE RIGHT ENGINE FOR AN OIL LEAK, EL PASO, TX

INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   1
                 # Crew:   0     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Pass:   0     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Grnd:         Fat:   1     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   

WEATHER: NOT REPORTED

OTHER DATA

  Departed:                             Dep Date:    Dep. Time:     
  Destination:                          Flt Plan:              Wx Briefing: 
  Last Radio Cont: 
  Last Clearance: 

  FAA FSDO: LUBBOCK, TX  (SW13)                   Entry date: 01/17/2006

FMI: www.ntsb.gov, www.faa.gov