# NTSB CHI84IA264: McDonnell Douglas DC-8-54, N8048U, Chicago, IL, June 26, 1984

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: June 26, 1984, 02:35 local (07:35 UTC)
- Place: Chicago, IL
- Location: 41.9769° N, 87.9081° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at CHICAGO O'HARE INTL (ORD), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9769&lon=-87.9081&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 30, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 12454
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI84IA264
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/12454/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI84IA264

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, landing - roll
  - maintenance - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - landing gear,main gear attachment - overtorque (cause)
  - landing gear,main gear attachment - stress corrosion (cause)
  - landing gear,main gear attachment - failure,total (cause)

## Analysis

DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE LEFT MAIN GEAR SWIVEL LINK PIN FAILED ALLOWING THE REAR SET OF TIRES TO BECOME DETACHED FROM THE MAIN STRUT AND DRAG ALONG THE RWY. THE LEFT MAIN GEAR BOGIE WAS LAST OVERHAULED IN 1981. AT THE TIME OF FAILURE, IT HAD 4459 HOURS SINCE OVERHAUL. METALLURGICAL STUDY OF THE SWIVEL PIN REVEALED, 1) INTERGRANULAR CRACKING THRU 40% OF PIN CROSS-SECTION, 2) EVIDENCE OF STRESS CORROSION FROM OVERTORQUING THE NUT ON THREADED END OF PIN, 3) TRACES OF COPPER, SOMETIMES USED BEFORE CHROMIUM PLATING DURING OVERHAUL, FOUND IN CRACK, 4) NO OVERLOAD EVIDENCE IN PREEXISTANT CRACK, AND 5) INDICATIONS THAT FINAL FRACTURE WAS DUE TO OVERLOAD.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N8048U (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: McDonnell Douglas DC-8-54
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 45-881
- Engines: P&W JT3D-3 18000 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Registered owner: United Airlines
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Departed: EWR, NEWARK, NJ
- Destination: ORD, CHICAGO, IL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: ORD, O'Hare, runway 14R, 11,600 × 200 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 220° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: ORD

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 19840626035379I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840626035379I), Jun 26, 1984: Doug DC8*, Chicago, IL, Minor damage. Experienced failure of left main landing gear bogie. Found aft axle pin broken.

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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