- Date
- November 13, 1992, 06:50 local (12:50 UTC)
- Place
- Chicago, IL
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N870SJMcDonnell Douglas DC-8-71
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Not reported
- Status
- Completed · report September 14, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19921113055949I
- Case key
- 15590
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the incident.
On this page
Probable cause
An improper repair of the retract pin boss area by the overhaul facility.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The crew of the mcdonnell-douglas DC-8 cargo airplane retracted the landing gear during its climb to cruise altitude. The crew advised air traffic control that the landing gear had not retracted properly. During an attempt to ensure the landing gear was in the down and locked position the crew heard a loud bang. Coincidental with the aircrew's actions, a person residing in a single family home reported that a metal object had penetrated her home's roof and imbedded itself in the floor. The airplane returned to land without further incident. An on-scene investigation revealed the right main landing gear retract pin had separated from the landing gear leg. Portions of the gear leg retract pin boss area had separated and were found wedged along side the gear assembly. Subsequent metallurgical investigation revealed the pin boss area had metal fracture features consistent with overload, one of which was consistent with a preexisting fracture area. The pin boss area had previously been over-bored and chrome plated prior to a return to service. The airplane manufacturer stated the pin boss bore should not be chrome plated.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N870SJ
- Reported as
- McDonnell Douglas DC-8-71
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 46039
- Airframe hours
- 27
- Engine
- GE CFM56-2C1, turbo fan
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Part 121
- Operator
- Southern Air Transport
- Registered owner
- Aero USA
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Transport
- Last inspection
- Continuous airworthiness · May 21, 1992 · 1,554 hours before
- Flight plan
- IFR
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 54
- Certificates
- Commercial, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 7,850 total · 338 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Not reported
- Wind
- 330° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 15,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 36 °F
- Observed at
- ORD, 10 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.