The biggest increases were in primary metals and nonelectrical machinery.

Orders for nonelectrical machinery fell 2.5 percent, to $21.8 billion, after being unchanged in March.

The pilot could have safely flown and landed the plane with nonelectrical equipment, the board found.

But nonelectrical machinery orders, including computers, were off seven-tenths of 1 percent, to $22.5 billion.

Nonelectrical machinery plummeted 9.7 percent last month, the steepest drop in more than three years, to $21.1 billion.

Operating rates at factories producing chemical and nonelectrical machinery have also shown significant increases in the last year.

But primary metals and nonelectrical machinery posted modest gains.

When Richardson arrived, he found that the wiring, which had been done by a nonelectrical contractor, was done entirely wrong.

Most of the weakness in July came in military orders, which swing widely from month to month, and nonelectrical machinery.

The department said orders in December for nonelectrical machinery fell 4.7 percent after rising 5.6 percent in November.

Rather, it's nonelectrical; it's immune to electromagnetic interactions."

But orders for nonelectrical machinery, including computers and a wide variety of industrial equipment, slipped 4.3 percent, to $21.7 billion, after a 5.8 percent increase in November.

Both electrical machinery and transportation categories posted gains while orders for nonelectrical machinery and primary metals fell.

In addition the introduction of Windows 95, he said, "caused a 4.6 percent jump in orders for nonelectrical machinery, the third increase in the past four months."

Orders for electrical machinery jumped 4.7 percent last month, while primary metals and nonelectrical machinery both advanced 2.1 percent, the Commerce Department found.

Orders for nonelectrical machinery fell 4.3 percent last month, while orders for electrical machinery declined four-tenths of 1 percent.

Orders for transportation equipment climbed a slight one-tenth of 1 percent, and nonelectrical machinery fell six-tenths of 1 percent.

Ingersoll-Rand, based in Woodcliff Lake, N.J., makes primarily nonelectrical machinery and equipment.

Orders for electrical machinery fell 7.3 percent, and orders for nonelectrical machinery were down 8.8 percent - the biggest drop for any sector.

The Mets' spokesman, JAY HORWITZ, said the fire was nonelectrical and not suspicious.

Orders for nonelectrical machinery edged up two-tenths of 1 percent, to $18.8 billion, while orders for electrical machinery fell six-tenths of 1 percent, to $19.9 billion.

Electrical Orders Drop The Commerce Department said factory orders for nonelectrical machinery rose 2.4 percent in January after falling 4 percent in December.

But since concentrators rely on electricity, it is prudent for users to have accessible a nonelectrical source of oxygen - such as an E-type cylinder - should there be a power failure.

With a refurbished electrical drive for the two-car tram, which resembles a ski lift, and new backup electrical and nonelectrical drives, officials promised a safer and more reliable ride.

The senior Steger, who was co-inventor of the first nonelectrical water softener, recalls his son's pursuit of the North Pole dream: "His determination was like a force of nature."