# NTSB FTW88IA165: Boeing 727-200, N710AA, Dfw Airport, TX, September 22, 1988

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · Minor injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: September 21, 1988, 21:42 local (Sep 22, 1988, 02:42 UTC)
- Place: Dfw Airport, TX
- Location: 32.8972° N, 97.0377° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at DALLAS-FORT WORTH INTL (DFW), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8972&lon=-97.0377&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 4 minor, 84 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 11, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 22579
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW88IA165
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22579/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW88IA165

## Probable cause

FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR DOOR ACTUATOR PIVOT TRUNNION SHAFT WHICH SUBSEQUENTLY BECAME LODGED IN THE ACTUATOR CLEVIS PREVENTING THE DOOR UNLOCK MECHANISM FROM ACTUATING DURING GEAR EXTENSION.

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - landing gear,normal retraction/extension assembly - failure,total (cause)
  - landing gear,normal retraction/extension assembly - fatigue (cause)
  - acft/equip,inadequate design, manufacturer (cause)
  - landing gear,normal retraction/extension assembly - jammed
  - landing gear,emergency extension assembly - jammed
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - wheels up landing - performed, pilot in command

## Analysis

ACFT RECEIVED MINOR DAMAGE WHEN THE PLT EXECUTED AN EMERGENCY GEAR UP LANDING FOLLOWING THE FAILURE OF THE MLG TO EXTEND USING NORMAL, ABNORMAL, AND MANUAL PROCEDURES. ACFT WAS LANDED WITH THE NLG EXTENDED AND THE MAINS RETRACTED. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE LEFT MLG DOOR ACTUATOR PIVOT TRUNNION UPPER SHAFT HAD FAILED AS A RESULT OF A FATIGUE FRACTURE. FOLLOWING THE FRACTURE, THE SEPARATED SHAFT HAD BECOME JAMMED BETWEEN THE TRUNNION AND THE ACTUATOR CLEVIS WHICH PREVENTED THE MANUAL DOOR UNLOCK MECHANISM FROM RELEASING. A REVIEW OF THE SERVICE DIFFICULTY HISTORY OF THE FAILED PART INDICATED THAT SEVERAL SIMILAR FAILURES HAD OCCURRED ON MANUFACTURED PARTS AND THAT A REDESIGNED PART WAS AVAILABLE FOR REPLACEMENT. THE OPERATOR HAD COMPLIED WITH ALL OF THE REQUIRED INSP'S.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N710AA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N710AA-2012-08-29), registration cancelled 2012-08-29, S/N BB787 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 727-200
- Registry model: [Beech 200](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-200) (registry code 1152920) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 22467
- Airframe hours: 20873
- Engines: P&W JT8D-15 15500 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: American Airlines, Inc.
- Registered owner: American Airlines Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, September 17, 1988, 8 hours before
- Departed: OKC, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK
- Destination: DFW
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: DFW, Dfw Reg., runway 18L, 11,388 × 200 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 6,000 total, 4,000 in this make and model, 200 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright
- Wind: 170° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: DFW

## 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 19880921053449I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880921053449I), Sep 21, 1988: Boeing 727223, Dallas-Ft Worth, TX, Minor damage. Unable to lower left gear. Landed with only nose gear down. Evacuated. Gear door pivot pin failed. Jammed actuator.

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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