# NTSB DCA86AA014: Boeing 727-225, N802EA, Loudon County, VA, January 17, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: January 17, 1986, 18:51 local (23:51 UTC)
- Place: Loudon County, VA
- Location: 38.9445° N, 77.4558° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9445&lon=-77.4558&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 131 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 9, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Major Investigations Division
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15851
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA86AA014
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15851/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA86AA014

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - landing gear,gear locking mechanism - corroded (cause)
  - maintenance,inspection - inadequate, company maintenance personnel (contributing factor)
  - information insufficient, company/operator management (contributing factor)
  - insufficient standards/requirements, manufacturer (contributing factor)
  - maintenance,lubrication - not performed, company maintenance personnel (contributing factor)
  - gear extension - not possible, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - wheels up landing - intentional, pilot in command

## Analysis

THE RT MAIN LNDG GEAR WOULD NOT EXTEND FOR LNDG AT WASH NATL ARPT. THE LNDG WAS ABORTED AND THE CREW ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT THE SITUATION BUT WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. AN EMERGENCY GEAR-UP LNDG WAS MADE AT DULLES INTERNATL ARPT. THE CREW AND PASSG EVACUATED WITHOUT INJURY. POST ACC EXAM SHOWED THAT THE RT DOWNLOCK LINK BEARING HAD CORRODED AND SEIZED; BOEING PART #BACB10B107J. THERE IS NO EXTERNAL PROVISION FOR LUBRICATION OF THIS PART AND NO REQUIRMENT FOR DISASSEMBLY TO INSPECT OR LUBRICATE. AN 'INSTALLED' INSPECTION WAS DONE AT 'A' CHECKS EACH 130 HRS AND 'C' CHECKS EVERY 36 DAYS. THE MOST RECENT WAS AN 'A' CHECK ON 10/28/85.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N802EA (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 727-225
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 22433
- Airframe hours: 16558
- Engines: P&W JT8D-7 14500 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Eastern Airlines
- Registered owner: Connecticut Nat'L Bank
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, October 28, 1985
- Departed: MIA, MIAMI, FL
- Destination: DCA, WASHINGTON, DC
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: IAD, Dulles Int'L Airport, runway 19R, 11,501 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 10,758 total, 2,324 in this make and model, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Lowest ceiling: none

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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