# NTSB MIA86IA213: Boeing 727-225, N8872Z, Miami, FL, July 19, 1986

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: July 19, 1986, 18:11 local (22:11 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: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 99 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31528
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA86IA213
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31528/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA86IA213

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, approach
  - landing gear,gear locking mechanism - corroded (cause)
  - inadequate surveillance,inadequate procedure, manufacturer (cause)
  - landing gear,gear locking mechanism - failure,total (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear,nose gear assembly - inoperative (cause)

## Analysis

FLT WAS UNABLE TO EXTEND NOSE GEAR AND A NOSE GEAR UP LANDING WAS MADE. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE NOSE GEAR DRAG BRACE TO BE LOCKED IN THE UP POSITION. DISASSEMBLY OF THE DRAG BRACE REVEALED THE LINK ASSEMBLIES WHICH CONNECT THE LOCKING PAWLS TO THE LOCKING ACTUATOR HAD FAILED. METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION REVEALED THE LINK ASSEMBLIES FAILED DUE TO CORROSION CRACKING. CORROSION WAS CAUSED BY ELECTROLYTIC REACTION BETWEEN THE METAL IN THE BUSHING OF THE LINK AND THE METAL OF THE LINK. EXAMINATION OF THE BUSHINGS INSTALLED IN THE LINK REVEALED THE ABSENCE OF CADMIUM PLATING AND CHROMATE COATING. THE BUSHINGS WERE OBTAINED BY EASTERN AIRLINES FROM A VENDOR WHO WAS MANUFACTURING THE PART USING PLANS SUPPLIED BY EASTERN. THE EASTERN PLANS CALL FOR CADMIUM PLATING AND CHROMATE COATING.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N8872Z (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 727-225
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 21290
- Engines: P&W JT8D-15 15500 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: Eastern Air Lines,Inc., doing business as Eastern Airlines
- Registered owner: Bankers Trust Company
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Departed: MKJP, KINGSTON, OF
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: MIA, Miami International, runway 9R, 13,000 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 14,500 total, 200 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 140° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 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 19860719074889I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860719074889I), Jul 19, 1986: Boeing 727225, Miami, FL, Minor damage. Nose wheel failed to extend. Drag brace found corroded due to improperly manufactured bushings.

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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