# NTSB MIA83IA075: Boeing B-727-200, N8831E, Miami, FL, February 16, 1983

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: February 15, 1983, 20:29 local (Feb 16, 1983, 01:29 UTC)
- Place: Miami, FL
- Location: 25.7954° N, 80.2901° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at MIAMI INTL (MIA), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.7954&lon=-80.2901&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 74 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 30826
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA83IA075
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/30826/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA83IA075

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, takeoff - initial climb
  - landing gear,normal retraction/extension assembly - undetermined (cause)
  - landing gear,main gear - jammed (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - wheels up landing - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

DURING GEAR RETRACTION AFTER TAKEOFF, THE AIRCREW NOTED THAT THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR (MLG) DOOR WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE LANDING GEAR CONTROL WAS CYCLED, BUT THE CONDITION WAS NOT CORRECTED. ATTEMPTS TO EXTEND THE LEFT MLG WERE ALSO UNSUCCESSFUL. DURING TOWER FLY-BY'S, THE AIRCREW WERE ADVISED THAT THE NOSE & RIGHT MLG WERE DOWN; HOWEVER, THE LEFT MLG WAS ONLY PARTIALLY EXTENDED & THE LEFT MLG DOOR WAS IN AN APRX 45 DEG POSITION. SUBSEQUENTLYA WHEELS UP LANDING WAS MADE. AFTER BEING HOISTED, THE LEFT MLG WAS FOUND HANGING DOWN & WEDGED ON THE DOOR. ALL GEAR WERE EXTENDED & THE ACFT WAS TOWED FROM THE RWY. AN EXAM REVEALED NO DISCREPANCIES EXCEPT THE LEFT MGL DOOR ACTUATOR MOUNTING BOLTS & A SERRATED FITTING WERE LOOSE. THE SYSTEM MALFUNCTION COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE ACFT WAS EQUIPPED WITH AN ORIGINAL PRODUCTION MLG SAFETY BAR TO PREVENT INTERFERENCE BETWEEN THE DOOR & GEAR DURING EMERGENCY EXTENSION WITHOUT HYD PRESSURE. HOWEVER, IT WAS NOT DESIGNED TO WITHSTAND DOOR CLOSING PRESSURES (HYD & AIR).

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8831E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8831E-1991-07-18), registration cancelled 1991-07-18, S/N 20150 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING B-727-200
- Registry model: [Boeing 727-225](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-727-225) (registry code 1384077) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 20150
- Airframe hours: 38712
- Engines: P&W JT8D-7 14000 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Eastern Airlines
- Registered owner: Ona Leasing, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, January 10, 1983, 17 hours before
- Departed: PBI, WEST PALM BEACH, FL
- Destination: JFK, JAMAICA, NY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: MIA, Miami International, runway 9R, 13,002 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; airline transport, flight engineer; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 12,353 total, 2,725 in this make and model, 143 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright
- Wind: 220° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: MIA

## 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 19830215072779I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830215072779I), Feb 15, 1983: Boeing 727225, Miami, FL, Minor damage. Left gear door failed to close on climbout. Left main gear failed to extend on recycling. Landed gear up.

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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