# NTSB MIA92FA115: Boeing 707-324C, Miami, FL, April 25, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Date: April 25, 1992, 22:15 UTC, 18:15 local
- Place: Miami, FL
- Location: 25.7809° N, 80.2887° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from MIAMI INTL (MIA), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director, December 16, 1993
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32986
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA92FA115
- NTSB report (PDF): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32986/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA92FA115

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE #3 ENGINE PYLON INBOARD MIDSPAR SUPPORT FITTING DUE TO FATIGUE CRACKING WHICH RESULTED IN THE SEPARATION OF THE NUMBER THREE ENGINE AND PYLON. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE INADEQUATE INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS OF THE MANUFACTURER AND THE FAA TO DETECT CRACKS IN THE MIDSPAR FITTING.

## Analysis

SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE #3 ENGINE AND PYLON SEPARATED FROM THE AIRPLANE AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE OF THE PYLON INBOARD MIDSPAR SUPPORT FITTING. THE FITTING HAD CRACKED DUE TO FATIGUE, AND HAD BEEN CRACKED FOR SOME TIME. THE POINT OF CRACKING WAS NOT VISIBLE FOR INSPECTION ON THE WING. THE FITTING IS THE SUBJECT OF FAA AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE 88-24-10 AND BOEING SERVICE BULLETIN 3183 WHICH REQUIRE VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE MIDSPAR FITTING EACH 1500 FLIGHT HOURS OR 600 CYCLES. THIS INSPECTION HAD BEEN COMPLETED ON THE FAILED FITTING ON JANUARY 2, 1992, 821 FLIGHT HOURS AND 328 CYCLES BEFORE THE FAILURE.

## Sequence of events

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, takeoff - initial climb
  - nacelle/pylon,fitting - fatigue (cause)
  - acft/equip,inadequate standard/requirement, manufacturer (cause)
  - acft/equip,inadequate standard/requirement, faa(other/organization) (cause)
  - nacelle/pylon - separation
  - engine assembly - separation

## Aircraft

- Registration: HK360 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 707-324C
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 19352
- Airframe hours: 53257
- Engines: P&W JT3D-3B 17000 lbs thrust
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Unknown, Part 129
- Operator: TRANS AEREOS MERCAN PAN AM
- Destination: SKLC, CALI,COLOMBIA, OF
- Airport: MIA, MIAMI INTERNATIONAL, runway 9R

## Flight crew

- Pilot; age 36; airline transport; medical class 1; hours: 7 24 hours, 7 24 hours in this make and model, 70 30 days, 70 30 days in this make and model, 200 90 days, 200 90 days in this make and model, 2,500 pic, 2,500 pic in this make and model, 8,000 total, 4,500 total in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 160° at 7 knots
- Visibility (statute miles): 7
- Temperature (°F): 82.4

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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From OpenAirDocs.org, an independent open copy of NTSB and FAA data. The NTSB's own report is the official record of an investigation.