# NTSB ATL94LA147: Boeing A75N1, N57TH, Chamblee, GA, July 30, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 30, 1994, 12:05 local (16:05 UTC) - Place: Chamblee, GA - Coordinates: 33.89936, -84.299034 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8994&lon=-84.2990&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 13, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 3425 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL94LA147 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3425/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL94LA147 ## Probable cause The fatigue failure of the left main landing gear shock absorbing strut that resulted in a loss of control. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Gear collapsed, landing - roll - landing gear,main gear shock absorbing strut - fractured (cause) - landing gear,main gear shock absorbing strut - fatigue (contributing factor) - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - sign ## Analysis THE PILOT STATED THAT DURING THE LANDING, THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED. THE AIRCRAFT VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY AND STRUCK A SIGN ON THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. EXAMINATION OF THE LEFT LANDING GEAR REVEALED THAT THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR SHOCK ABSORBING STRUT WAS FRACTURED AND THE GEAR HAD COLLAPSED. A MALFUNCTION OR DEFECT REPORT SUBMITTED BY AN AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTOR STATED THAT THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF A HARD LANDING, AND THAT A REVIEW OF THE AIRCRAFT RECORDS FAILED TO ESTABLISH A TOTAL TIME ON THE COMPONENT. THE REPORT STATED THAT METAL FATIGUE WAS SUSPECTED. ## Factual narrative On July 30, 1994, at 1205 eastern daylight time, a Boeing A75-N1, N57TH was substantially damaged following a collision with a taxi-way sign and runway edge light at Dekalb-Peachtree Airport in Chamblee, Georgia. Neither the commercial pilot, nor his passenger were injured in the accident. The aircraft was operated by American East Airways, under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time, and no flight plan had been filed for the local, personal flight. The pilot stated that during the landing on runway 2L, the left main landing gear strut collapsed. The aircraft veered off the runway to the left, and struck a taxi-way sign and landing light prior to coming to a stop. Examination of the aircraft revealed that the left main landing gear shock absorbing strut was fractured, and the landing gear had collapsed. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who examined the accident site stated that there was no evidence of a hard landing. He also stated that a review of the aircraft records failed to establish a total time for the failed component. Additionally, a Malfunction or Defect report submitted by an airworthiness inspector indicated that a fatigue failure of the upper shock strut cylinder was believed to have occurred (attached). ## Aircraft - Registration: [N57TH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N57TH), registered now, S/N 75-4240 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BOEING A75N1 - Registry model: [Boeing A75N1(PT17)](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-a75n1-pt17) (registry code 1380134) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-985 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (registry code 52008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 75-4240 - Engines: P&W R-985 450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Registered owner: American East Airways - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 1994, 50 hours before - Airport: PDK, Dekalb-Peachtree, runway 2L, 3,744 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: rear; flight hours: 7,000 total, 500 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 11 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: PDK ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19940730019719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940730019719A), Jul 30, 1994: Boeing A75N1, Atlanta, GA, Substantial damage. Left landing gear collapsed on landing. Veered off runway. Struck runway light. Fatigue failure upper shock cylinder ## Other investigations on N57TH (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB ATL94LA066](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL94LA066), Mar 19, 1994: Boeing PT-17 (N57TH), Chamblee, GA, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO COMPENSATE FOR THE WIND CONDITION DURING LANDING. A FACTOR IS A TAILWIND. From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.