# NTSB NYC87IA105: McDonnell Douglas MD-80, N236AA, Baltimore, MD, March 8, 1987

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: March 8, 1987, 08:17 local (13:17 UTC)
- Place: Baltimore, MD
- Location: 39.1757° N, 76.6690° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at BALTIMORE/WASHINGTON INTL THURGOOD MARSHALL (BWI), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1757&lon=-76.6690&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 76 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 10, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 30526
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC87IA105
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/30526/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC87IA105

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, takeoff
  - landing gear,main gear attachment - stress corrosion (cause)
  - landing gear,main gear attachment - separation (cause)

## Analysis

MAIN LANDING GEAR UPPER TORQUE LINK ATTACH BOLT SEPARATED DURING TAKEOFF AS A RESULT OF PREEXISTING STRESS CORROSION CRACKING. MCDONNELL-DOUGLAS ISSUED ALERT MD-80 SERVICE BULLETIN A32-220 FOLLOWING THE INCIDENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N236AA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N236AA-2010-03-25), registration cancelled 2010-03-25, S/N 49251, built 1984 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: McDonnell Douglas MD-80
- Registry model: [Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-82(MD-82)](https://openairdocs.org/model/mcdonnell-douglas-dc-9-82-md-82) (registry code 3022082) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 49251
- Engines: P&W JT8D-217A 20000 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: American Airlines
- Registered owner: Connecticut National Bank
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Destination: DAL, DALLAS, TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: BWI, Baltimore Wash Int'L, runway 28, 9,452 × 200 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 8,400 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 19870308015489I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870308015489I), Mar 8, 1987: Doug DC982, Baltimore, MD. A torque link bolt fell from the aircraft during takeoff. Same problem found in another aircraft.

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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