# NTSB DEN89IA060: De Havilland DHC-7-102, N926RM, Gunnison, CO, January 12, 1989

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: January 11, 1989, 18:50 local (Jan 12, 1989, 01:50 UTC)
- Place: Gunnison, CO
- Coordinates: 38.540435, -106.919494 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5404&lon=-106.9195&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 51 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 26, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17614
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN89IA060
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17614/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN89IA060

## Probable cause

THE FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE DOWN LOCK MECHANISM RESULTING FROM THE NON-COMPLIANCE WITH A SERVICE BULLETIN BY COMPANY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL.

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, landing - roll
  - landing gear,gear locking mechanism - incorrect
  - maintenance,replacement - not performed, company maintenance personnel (contributing factor)
  - landing gear,gear locking mechanism - fatigue (cause)
  - maintenance,service bulletin/letter - not performed, company maintenance personnel (contributing factor)

## Analysis

ROCKY MOUNTAIN AIRWAYS FLT 2276 WAS ON A SCHEDULED FLT FROM DENVER, CO TO GUNNISON, CO. DURING TOUCHDOWN AT GUNNISON, THE RIGHT LANDING GEAR PARTIALLY COLLAPSED. THE CAPT WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE LANDING ROLL. HE TAXIED THE ACFT OFF THE RUNWAY ONTO THE ACFT PARKING APRON WHERE HE SHUT THE ENGINES DOWN AND THE PAX WERE DEPLANNED. SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE LOCK STRUT IN THE LANDING GEAR ASSEMBLY HAD FAILED DUE TO FATIGUE. A SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING THE INSPECTION AND REPLACEMENT OF THIS PART HAD NOT BEEN COMPLIED WITH.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N926RM (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: DE HAVILLAND DHC-7-102
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 6
- Airframe hours: 27635
- Engines: P&W PT6A-50 1120 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Rocky Mountain Airways, doing business as Continental Express
- Registered owner: Aviation Sales Company ,Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, January 4, 1989, 62 hours before
- Departed: DEN, DENVER, CO
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: GUC, Gunnison

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 8,806 total, 3,432 in this make and model, 6,635 as pilot in command, 251 in the last 90 days, 98 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 7 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

## 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 19890111000809I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890111000809I), Jan 11, 1989: Dhav DHC7102, Gunnison, CO, Minor damage. Right gear collapsed on landing rollout. Found gear upper lock strut had failed.

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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