LAX96IA184

The pilot reported an unresolved main landing gear problem and orbited the area performing normal emergency gear extension procedures without success. The pilot performed low 'G' maneuvers and touch-and-go landings in an attempt to lower the left main gear. The pilot diverted to another airport where an emergency landing was made with minor damage and no injuries. The landing gear was removed and disassembled. The upper bearing carriers and bearing half shells were found out of position in the upper portion of the oleo strut. The subsequent over extension of the strut was a result of the gradual breakup of the bearings and bearing carriers due to improper/incompatible wear surfaces from the repair facility's improper assembly at overhaul. The compression/extension measurements after installation were not required.

History of flight

On April 30, 1996, at 1436 hours Pacific daylight time, Southwest Flight 1767, a Boeing 737-300-3H4, N331SW, with 127 passengers and crew of 5 was en route to Burbank, California, from Las Vegas, Nevada. During the initial approach into Burbank, the landing gear was extended, at which time an unusual noise was heard by the captain and an unsafe gear light was observed. The aircraft discontinued the approach and maneuvered in the general area of Burbank. After performing normal emergency gear extension procedures without success, and consulting with Southwest maintenance personnel, the decision was made to divert to Ontario, California. A flyby, a bounce and go landing, and a low "G" maneuver was performed at Ontario without success. Subsequently, the aircraft landed on runway 26R with a partially extended left main landing gear. The 127 passengers and 5 crew were evacuated via chutes and there were no injuries.

Aircraft information

The aircraft was maintained under an FAA approved continuous airworthiness program. The last "C" check (C2 and 3C2) was conducted on April 16, 1996. At the time of the incident, the aircraft accumulated a total of 26,697.45 flight hours with 27,340 cycles. The time since the C2 and 3C2 checks was 129.50 hours with 117 cycles. The left landing gear was overhauled by BF Goodrich Aerospace, Miami, Florida, on June 29, 1995, and installed on the aircraft on July 1, 1995. The left landing gear accumulated 2,890 hours and 2,681 cycles since the overhaul at the time of the incident.

Wreckage and impact information

On-scene examination revealed that the damage was confined to the left engine nacelle, with minor damage to the engine and to the left flap fairings.

Examination of the left landing gear

Examination of the left landing gear oleo strut revealed that it had over extended prior to gear retraction into the wheel well. The inboard tire was observed to be partially above the blade seal in the wheel well. The tire had minimal tread wear. The torque links were at maximum extension and were parallel with the oleo piston (inner cylinder). The chrome portion of the inner cylinder was measured at 16 inches of exposed chrome. Scoring was observed on the forward side of the piston, with strut oil covering both main gear wheel assemblies and trailing from the left wheel well aft to the tail cone. The strut was removed from the aircraft and flown to Boeing Aircraft in Seattle, Washington, for disassembly and examination.

Tests and research

On May 3, 1996, the shock strut was examined at Boeing under the supervision of the NTSB with BF Goodrich, Boeing, and the FAA ACO present. Prior to disassembly, the shock strut was taken to the Boeing Flight Technology/Physics Department and x-rayed (Industrial Computed Tomography). The x-ray revealed that the upper bearing carriers (p/n 69-65396-1) became dislodged. The upper bearing carriers provides the outstop/extension for the inner cylinder during strut extension. As a result of these displaced parts, complete compression of the strut was not possible.

After removal of the piston/inner cylinder from the outer cylinder, fragments of the upper bearing outer shell were spilled out. The aluminum, nickel, and bronze bearing shell provides the wear surface between the aluminum upper bearing carrier and the inside diameter of the outer cylinder (p/n 65-61740). After the inner cylinder (p/n 65-46116) was completely removed, the aluminum bearing carriers were recovered.

Examination revealed that the absence of the outer bearing half shell resulted in approximately 0.15 inches of bearing carrier wear due to the bearing carrier abrading against the outer cylinder's inside diameter. According to Boeing engineers, the resultant radial wear/clearance allowed the bearing carriers to override the lip retainers on the inner cylinder, thereby eliminating the normal strut extension stop.

During the overhaul/repair process when an inner cylinder is reinstalled into the outer cylinder, a technician must hold the two bearing carriers and the two bearing half shells in position as the inner cylinder is installed through the wipers and seals into the outer cylinder. The process is accomplished vertically with the use of a hoist and a sling when at a repair facility and removed from the aircraft.

According to the June 29,1995, records, overhaul of the bearing outer half shells (p/n 69-65397-1) were reused after a visual inspection. The bearing carriers inner shells (p/n 69-65396-1) were replaced with new parts.

According to the aircraft maintenance log, from April 23, 1996, to the date of the incident, there were no indications of prior problems with the landing gear. There were two standard tire pressure checks during this period.

According to a Boeing dimensional inspection that was performed on the main landing gear shock strut inner cylinder, it was found out of tolerance in the area of impact damage. The outer cylinder wear was visibly apparent. The Boeing report states that the wear occurred in an area where the inner cylinder contacted the outer cylinder, with the bearing out of place. The results of the Boeing report concluded that the parts examined in the EQA Laboratory were made per drawing, and did not contribute to the cause of the incident.

The shock strut fluid recovered from the incident gear was analyzed using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and Microprobe and X-Ray Flourescence Spectroscopy (XRF). The fluid was metallic in color due to the suspension of fine metal particles. The laboratory concluded that the shock strut fluid generally met the shock strut/operators specification and did not contribute to the incident.

Service difficulty report history

A review of the SDR data base revealed a similar incident occurred in Atlanta, Georgia, on March 20, 1990. The right landing gear overextended prior to gear retraction into the wheel well. The SDR stated that the upper bearing retainer was found out of position inside the strut. There was no additional information available.

Another incident occurred in England on October 7, 1994, with British Midland Airlines. In this case, both main gears were overhauled by BF Goodrich, U.K., and reinstalled on the aircraft. While the aircraft was on the jacks and the strut extension was being measured, it was discovered that the proper oleo extension could not be obtained on the left main gear strut. The fully extended strut should be 15.5 inches at 250 psi. The actual measurement was 13.5 inches at 250 psi. During disassembly to determine the cause, it was discovered that a bearing half shell (p/n 69-65397-1) (1.945 inches in width), was found out of position and obstructing the strut from its full extension. It was jammed between the spacer (p/n 65-46158-4), and the upper bearing retaining flange of the inner cylinder (p/n 65-46116-51).

Subsequently, after the British Midland incident, BF Goodrich revised their overhaul manual by adding a boxed alert as step 11(a), which states: "carefully check packing bore to verify shell half #28 are properly seated on upper bearing." After the Ontario incident, BF Goodrich created a tool (BFG 96-001) similar to a ring compressor, to keep the bearing half shells in position during the insertion of the inner cylinder into the outer cylinder instead of the direct use of the technicians hands.

According to BF Goodrich records, during the overhaul of the left landing gear at Miami, the bearing carriers were replaced with new parts. The bearing half shells were visually and dimensionally examined then reused as a matched set. During the assembly and testing of the strut, which requires two technicians, measurements are taken of the fully compressed and the fully extended lengths.

According to the Southwest Airlines main landing gear installation sign off sheet, there are no requ