# NTSB FTW99LA045: Lockheed L-1329, N787WB, Austin, TX, November 27, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 27, 1998, 14:05 local (20:05 UTC) - Place: Austin, TX - Coordinates: 30.299306, -97.689323 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2993&lon=-97.6893&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 16, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 45418 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW99LA045 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45418/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW99LA045 ## Probable cause The steering actuator fatigue failure resulting from inadequate procedure documentation for the manufacturing process. ## 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,steering system - fatigue (cause) - procedure inadequate, manufacturer (cause) - inadeq substantiation process,inadeq documentation, manufacturer (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - airport sign/marker - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll ## Analysis During the landing roll, the nose gear settled onto the runway, and the aircraft veered hard to the right. Application of the left brake had no effect. The airplane skidded, exited the runway, struck a runway marker, and collapsed the nose landing gear. The steering actuator had failed, the hydraulic fluid was lost from the steering actuator, and the fuselage received structural damage. The steering actuator assembly, p/n 1501-4, had accumulated 5,938.0 hours since new and had not been repaired or overhauled. Examination of the nose gear steering actuator cylinder by the metallurgist revealed that the cylinder fracture was the result of fatigue cracking initiated by an abrupt machining transition from the 45 degree thread ring chamfer to the straight wall of the cylinder. The engineering drawings appear to depict the radius at the fatigue origin as a continuation of the 0.03 inch to 0.06 inch radius adjacent to the fracture. However, the drawing is not clear on the specific intent of the transition between the nearby radius and the internal threads for the nut. ## Factual narrative On November 27, 1998, at 1405 central standard time, a Lockheed L-1329, 4 engine jet airplane, N787WB, impacted an airport sign and terrain following a loss of nose wheel steering during the landing roll on runway 13R, Robert Mueller Municipal Airport, Austin, Texas. The airplane was owned and operated by Banair, Inc., of Houston, Texas, under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The two airline transport rated crew members and the passenger were not injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the business flight which originated from Houston, Texas, at 1335. An IFR flight plan was filed. The pilot reported hearing a loud pop as the nose gear settled onto the runway. The aircraft veered hard to the right and application of the left brake had no effect. The airplane skidded 978 feet before exiting the runway near taxiway Papa. The airplane struck a runway marker and subsequently collapsed the nose landing gear. The aircraft traveled an additional 120 feet before coming to rest. Upon examining the nose gear area, the pilot/mechanic and the FAA inspector found the steering actuator failed and hydraulic fluid was lost from the steering actuator. The FAA inspector reported structural damage to the fuselage. A review of the maintenance records from May through November 1998, by the FAA inspector, did not reveal any entries specific to the nose wheel steering. The pilot/mechanic reported that the aircraft was scheduled for the AAIP (OPS #2) inspection to commence on November 30, 1998. He further stated that the steering actuator assembly, part number 1501-4, had accumulated 5,938.0 hours since new, and there was no history that it had ever been repaired or overhauled. The nose gear steering actuator cylinder was forwarded to the NTSB Materials Laboratory for examination. The metallurgist reported that examination of the fracture surfaces found fatigue arrest markings on the majority of the fracture surfaces. The fatigue initiated at the inner diameter surface of the cylinder and progressed "rapidly" outward. The fatigue initiated at a multitude of origin sites and dispersed completely around the inner diameter surface. No evidence of mechanical damage was noted at the origins. The fatigue origins were located at the abrupt transition from the 45 degree thread ring chamfer to the straight wall of the cylinder. The engineering drawing for the cylinder does not clearly define the machining details in this region of the cylinder, but shows a large radius without dimensions. The nearby radius between the cylinder wall and a vertical surface measured approximately 0.042 inches. The engineering drawing calls for a 0.03 to 0.06 inch radius. See the enclosed report for additional details. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N787WB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N787WB-2013-08-21), registration cancelled 2013-08-21, S/N 5210 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Lockheed L-1329 - Registry model: [Lockheed 1329-25 JETSTAR II](https://openairdocs.org/model/lockheed-1329-25-jetstar-ii) (registry code 5263125) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 5210 - Airframe hours: 5938 - Engines: ALLIED SIGNAL TFE-731-3-1F 3700 lbs thrust turbo jet - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Registered owner: Banair, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: AAIP, May 21, 1998, 96 hours before - Departed: HOU, HOUSTON, TX - Destination: AUS - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: AUS, Robert Mueller Municipal, runway 13R, 7,269 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; 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: 8,350 total, 750 in this make and model, 7,680 as pilot in command, 72 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 140° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft broken - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 63 °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). - [Accident 19981127043289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981127043289A), Nov 27, 1998: Lkheed 132925, Austin, TX, Substantial damage. (.19) On November 27, 1998, at 1420 central standard time, a Lockheed L-1329, 4 engine jet airplane, N787WB, impacted an airport sign and terrain following a… 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.