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July 5, 1997 · Mcdonnell Douglas DC-8-61 · N27UA

Miami, FL

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Incident
Date
July 5, 1997
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (3 uninjured)
Location
Miami, FL
Aircraft
Mcdonnell Douglas DC-8-61
Tail Number
N27UA
Operator
Fine Airlines
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Minor
NTSB Number
MIA97IA206

Postflight examination of the landing gear revealed the right main landing gear cylinder assembly had failed. Examination of the cylinder revealed the cylinder failed due to stress corrosion cracking.

NTSB Probable Cause

failure of the right main landing gear cylinder due to stress corrosion.

Full Narrative

On July 4, 1997, at about 2155 eastern daylight time, a McDonnell Douglas DC-8-61, N27UA, registered to Argo Air Associates, operated by Fine Airlines, as a Title 14 CFR Part 121 nonscheduled international cargo flight, found a cracked right main landing cylinder assembly after landing at Miami International Airport, Miami, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an IFR flight plan was filed. The airline transport-rated pilot-in-command, first officer, and flight engineer reported no injuries. The flight originated from Santo Domingo, about 3 hours 10 minutes before the accident. Review of maintenance records revealed the airplane was 25,699 pounds below landing weight. The right main landing gear shock strut assembly had accumulated a total of 20, 874 hours. The right main landing gear cylinder was transported to the Boeing Douglas Products Division for further examination. According to Boeing Douglas Product Division, the failure of the main landing gear cylinder occurred by stress corrosion cracking which initiated at the threaded portion of the lower end along the first and second full, upper, internal thread roots, about 0.85 inches from the bottom of the cylinder. The cadmium plating in the corrosion areas was sacrificially depleted. This depletion of cadmium plating made the base metal susceptible to stress corrosion cracking. No material or processing discrepancies were found. For additional information see Materials and Processing Engineering Laboratory Report No. LR-15773. Mr. Richard McCallman, Chief Inspector, Fine Airlines, Inc., authorized the right main landing gear cylinder to be disposed of locally by Boeing Douglas Products Division, on December 10, 1997.

Flight

Event TypeIncident
Event Time21:55 EDT
Nearest AirportMiami International (0nm)
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftMcdonnell Douglas DC-8-61
Tail NumberN27UA
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageMinor
OperatorFine Airlines
Operating RulePart 121
Engines4
Engine TypeTurbofan
Engine DetailsP&W · JT3D-3B · Turbofan · 18000
Seats3

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (3 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured3
Total3
Crew 1Age 44 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDusk
Wind180° @ 7 kt
Visibility9 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 6500 ft
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time01:56
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data