# NTSB MIA92IA166: Douglas DC-8-71F, N748UP, Miami, FL, August 22, 1992 - Type: NTSB incident investigation - Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report - Date: August 21, 1992, 22:40 local (Aug 22, 1992, 02:40 UTC) - Place: Miami, FL - Location: 25.7941° N, 80.3061° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from MIAMI INTL (MIA), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.7941&lon=-80.3061&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 29, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Safety recommendations: Yes - NTSB case key (mKey): 33012 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA92IA166 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/33012/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA92IA166 ## Probable cause FAILURE OF THE AIRCRAFT OPERATOR MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL TO ADEQUATELY LUBRICATE AND SEAL THE MAIN LANDING GEAR BOGIE BEAM SWIVEL JOINT AS REQUIRED BY MANUFACTURER AND OPERATOR MAINTENANCE PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS. THIS ALLOWED MOISTURE TO ENTER THE SWIVEL JOINT AND CAUSE CORROSION DAMAGE WHICH CAUSED STRESS CORROSION CRACKING AND FAILURE OF THE SWIVEL JOINT LUGS. CONTRIBUTING TO THE INCIDENT WAS LACK OF CLEAR INSTRUCTIONS IN THE OPERATORS MAINTENANCE PROGRAM REGARDING LUBRICATION OF THE SWIVEL JOINT. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, taxi - to takeoff - maintenance,lubrication - inadequate, company maintenance personnel (cause) - information insufficient, company/operator management (cause) - landing gear,main gear - corroded (cause) - landing gear,main gear - cracked (cause) - landing gear,main gear - collapsed (cause) ## Analysis AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED COLLAPSE OF THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR BOGIE WHILE STOPPED AT THE RUNWAY AWAITING TAKEOFF CLEARANCE. POSTINCIDENT EXAMINATION INDICATED THE AFT BOGIE SWIVEL JOINT LUGS HAD FAILED DUE TO STRESS CORROSION CRACKING. THE SWIVEL JOINT DID NOT HAVE PROPER LUBRICATION WHICH KEEPS WATER OUT. THIS ALLOWED FORMATION OF CORROSION ON THE SURFACE OF THE LUGS, AND SUBSEQUENT CRACK INITIATION AT THE CORROSION PITS. OPERATOR MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIED THAT THE SWIVEL JOINT BE LUBRICATED EVERY WEEKEND CHECK AND EVERY 'A' CHECK. THE WORK CARDS FOR THESE TWO INSPECTIONS CALLED OUT IN NARRATIVE FORM THE LUBRICATING OF THE BOGIE PIVOT JOINT. THE CARDS CALLED FOR THE SWIVEL JOINT TO BE LUBRICATED BY REFERENCE TO A NUMBER ON AN ILLUSTRATION. THE FAILURE OF THE SWIVEL JOINT LUGS WAS THE SUBJECT OF DOUGLAS AIRCRAFT ALL OPERATOR LETTERS IN 1976 AND 1990. THESE LETTERS STRESSED TO OPERATORS THE IMPORTANCE OF LUBRICATING THE SWIVEL JOINT TO PREVENT CORROSION FORMATION. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N748UP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N748UP-2006-10-06), registration cancelled 2006-10-06, S/N 45948, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: DOUGLAS DC-8-71F - Registry model: [Douglas DC-8-71F](https://openairdocs.org/model/douglas-dc-8-71f) (registry code 302199D) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney JT3D-3&3B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-jt3d-3-3b) (registry code 52039, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 45948 - Airframe hours: 56123 - Engines: SNECMA CFM-56-2 22000 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: United Parcel Service Co. - Registered owner: United Parcel Service Co. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, May 31, 1992, 327 hours before - Departed: MIA - Destination: SDF, LOUISVILLE, KY - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: MIA, Miami International, runway 9 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 12,100 total, 8,100 in this make and model, 8,100 as pilot in command, 93 in the last 90 days, 38 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/bright - Wind: 80° at 8 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: MIA, 1 nm away ## Other investigations on N748UP (1) 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. - [NTSB DCA06MA022](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA06MA022), Feb 8, 2006: Douglas DC-8 (N748UP), Philadelphia, PA, destroyed. Probable cause: an in-flight cargo fire that initiated from an unknown source, which was most likely located within cargo container 12, 13, or 14. Contributing to the loss of the aircraft were the inadequate… 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.