# NTSB CHI86IA083: Boeing 727-22, N7059U, Chicago, IL, February 6, 1986

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · Minor injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: February 6, 1986, 17:12 local (23:12 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: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 51 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 13355
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI86IA083
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/13355/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI86IA083

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, descent - normal
  - landing gear,nose gear assembly - failure,partial (cause)
  - maintenance,installation - improper, company maintenance personnel (cause)
  - landing gear,nose gear assembly - jammed (cause)
  - landing gear,nose gear assembly - improper (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - gear extension - not possible, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE FLIGHT CREW WAS UNABLE TO LOWER THE NOSE WHEEL LANDING GEAR THROUGH EITHER THE NORMAL OR BACKUP SYSTEMS. THE AIRPLANE SUBSQUENTLY MADE A NOSE GEAR UP LANDING RESULTING IN MINOR DAMAGE TO THE AIRPLANE. AN EXAMINATION OF THE NOSE GEAR DRAG BRACE ASSEMBLY REVEALED A BROKEN DRAG BRACE PAWL BLOCK LINK WHICH LEFT THE NOSE GEAR IN AN UP AND LOCKED POSITION AND PRECLUDED IT FROM BEING LOWERED IN FLIGHT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N7059U (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 727-22
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18866
- Airframe hours: 49405
- Engines: P&W JT8-D-7 14000 lbs thrust turbo jet
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Registered owner: United Airlines
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, August 9, 1985, 1,462 hours before
- Departed: OKC, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK
- Destination: ORD, CHICAGO, IL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: ORD, O'Hare, runway 4R, 8,071 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; flight engineer, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, unknown; seat: left

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright
- Wind: 40° at 20 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 23 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: ORD, 5 nm away

## 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 19860206007849I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860206007849I), Feb 6, 1986: Boeing 72722, Chicago, IL, Minor damage. Nose gear could not be extended for landing. Safe landing and evacuation. Found drag brace lock mechanism defect.

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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