# NTSB BFO90IA028: Boeing B-727-29, N902TS, Washington, DC, February 17, 1990

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: February 17, 1990, 13:45 local (18:45 UTC)
- Place: Washington, DC
- Location: 38.9475° N, 77.4599° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at WASHINGTON DULLES INTL (IAD), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9475&lon=-77.4599&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 86 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 30, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11560
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO90IA028
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11560/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO90IA028

## Probable cause

THE ACCIDENT WAS FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR SUPPORT LINK SHAFT BECAUSE OF OVERTORQUE.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, approach
  - landing gear,main gear attachment - overtorque (cause)
  - landing gear,main gear attachment - fatigue (contributing factor)
  - landing gear,main gear attachment - failure,partial (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE CAPTAIN REPORTED THAT WHEN HE LOWERED THE LANDING GEAR ON APPROACH TO DCA, HE HEARD A LOUD THUMP AND HE GOT AN UNSAFE RIGHT MAIN GEAR INDICATION. ALSO, 'A' SYSTEM HYDRAULIC PRESSURE LOSS OCCURRED. THE PILOT LEARNED SHORTLY AFTERWARDS, FROM A CABIN CREWMEMBER, THAT THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR LANDING STRUT WAS PROTURDING THROUGH THE RIGHT WING SURFACE. THE CAPTAIN DID A LOW PASS OVER DCA, WHERE AIR TRAFFIC TONTROL PERSONNEL NOTICED THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR WAS DOWN; HOWEVER, THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR DOOR APPEARED TO BE PARTIALLY EXTENDED. AS A PRECAUTION, THE CAPTAIN DIVERTED THE FLIGHT TO IAD, WHERE THE AIRCRAFT LANDED WITHOUT INCIDENT. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR BEAM HANGER SUPPORT SHAFT FRACTURED, CAUSING THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR STRUT TO LOOSEN FROM ITS MOUNT AND PUNCTURE THE WING SKIN. METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION OF THE SUPPORT SHAFT REVEALED A CRACK IN THE MATERIAL WHICH PRECEDED THE FRACTURE SEPARATION.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N902TS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N902TS-1997-06-09), registration cancelled 1997-06-09, S/N 18267 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING B-727-29
- Registry model: [Boeing 727-25](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-727-25) (registry code 1384006) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 20448
- Engines: P&W JT8D- turbo jet
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Trump Shuttle Inc.
- Registered owner: Unknown
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Departed: LGA, NEW YORK, NY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: IAD, Dulles Intl., runway 1L, 11,500 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: unknown, unknown; seat: left; flight hours: 14,000 total, 1,000 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 320° at 21 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 19 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: IAD

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.

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