# NTSB CHI89IA018: Boeing B-727-200A, N277US, Chicago, IL, October 24, 1988

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: October 24, 1988, 16:10 local (21:10 UTC)
- Place: Chicago, IL
- Location: 41.8500° N, 87.6501° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Chicago, IL, within about 9 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8500&lon=-87.6501&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 80 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 11, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 14278
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI89IA018
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/14278/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI89IA018

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, takeoff - roll/run
  - landing gear,axle - fatigue (cause)
  - material defect, manufacturer (cause)
  - landing gear,axle - failure,total

## Analysis

ON DEPARTURE FROM CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, O'HARE AIRPORT THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF THE INBOARD LEFT MAIN WHEEL. THE AIRCRAFT DIVERTED TO DETROIT, MICHIGAN, WHERE IT WAS LANDED WITH NO DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT AND NO INJURIES TO THE CREW OR PASSENGERS. SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION OF THE BROKEN INBOARD AXLE ASSEMBLY BY THE NTSB METALLURGICAL LAB, REVEALED FATIGUE CRACKING OF THE AXLE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N277US (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BOEING B-727-200A
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 21156
- Airframe hours: 31131
- Engines: P&W JT8D-15 15000 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Northwest Airlines, Inc.
- Registered owner: Northwest Airlines, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Departed: ORD, CHICAGO, IL
- Destination: BOS, BOSTON, MA
- Flight plan: IFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 13,234 total, 6,774 in this make and model, 160 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 290° at 12 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,300 ft overcast
- Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 28 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: ORD, 1 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 19881024057529I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881024057529I), Oct 24, 1988: Boeing 727251, Detroit, MI. Wheel departed on takeoff. Diverted. Upon ingition, APU exhaust fire. Passenger initiated evacuation.

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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