# NTSB FTW88IA037: Boeing 727-243, N571PE, Houston, TX, December 3, 1987

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: December 3, 1987, 12:34 local (18:34 UTC)
- Place: Houston, TX
- Location: 29.9844° N, 95.3414° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at GEORGE BUSH INTCNTL/HOUSTON (IAH), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.9844&lon=-95.3414&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 87 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 28, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22567
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW88IA037
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22567/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW88IA037

## Probable cause

IMPROPER DRILLING OF THE CROSS HOLE IN THE SLAT TRACK BEARING BOLT, WHICH LED TO ITS FAILURE FROM FATIGUE CRACKING.

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, approach
  - flight control,slat attachment - corroded (contributing factor)
  - flight control,slat attachment - fatigue (contributing factor)
  - flight control,slat - failure,total (cause)
  - maintenance,installation - improper, manufacturer (cause)
  - inadequate quality control, manufacturer (cause)

## Analysis

DURING THE APPROACH TO LANDING THE NUMBER SIX LEADING EDGE SLAT ASSEMBLY FAILED. THE INBOARD SECTION OF THE SLAT HUNG DOWN AND BENT AFT. THE PILOT LANDED THE ACFT WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. METALLURGICAL ANALYSIS OF COMPONENTS REVEALED THAT A SLAT TRACK ROLLER BEARING CONTAINED EVIDENCE OF CORROSION AND SPALLING. ADDITIONALLY, THE SLAT TRACK BEARING BOLT THAT HAD BEEN INSTALLED THROUGH THE ABOVE MENTIONED BEARING HAD HEAVY CIRCUMFERENTIAL GOUGES CONTAINED IN THE SURFACE OF A CROSS-DRILLED HOLE AT THE AREAS OF FATIGUE INITIATION. THERE WAS ALSO EVIDENCE OF TEARING, TYPICAL OF DAMAGE PRODUCED DURING DRILLING WITH A DULL DRILL BIT. THE AIRPLANE HAD COMPLETED A MAJOR STRUCTURAL MAINTENANCE CHECK 48 FLIGHT HOURS AND 28 CYCLES PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N571PE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N571PE-2017-06-23), registration cancelled 2017-06-23, S/N 21264, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 727-243
- Registry model: [Boeing 727-243](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-727-243) (registry code 138408D) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney JT8D-9 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-jt8d-9-series) (registry code 52048, turbo-jet) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 21264
- Airframe hours: 24892
- Engines: P&W JT8D-9A 14500 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Registered owner: People Express Airlines, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, November 27, 1987, 48 hours before
- Departed: ELP, EL PASO, TX
- Destination: IAH, HOUSTON, TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: IAH, Houston Intercontinental, runway 14, 12,001 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 6,500 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 200 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 260° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: IAH

## 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 19871203083409I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871203083409I), Dec 3, 1987: Boeing 727243, Houston, TX, Minor damage. Warned of loose metal on right wing on landing. Le slat had come loose.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.