# NTSB NYC89IA185: Boeing 727-254, N915TS, Boston, MA, August 10, 1989

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · Minor injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: August 10, 1989, 10:46 local (14:46 UTC)
- Place: Boston, MA
- Location: 42.3629° N, 71.0064° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at GENERAL EDWARD LAWRENCE LOGAN INTL (BOS), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3629&lon=-71.0064&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor, 54 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 26, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36313
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC89IA185
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36313/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC89IA185

## Probable cause

THE FAILURE OF THE LANDING GEAR DRAG BRACE TO UNLOCK DURING LANDING. CONTRIBUTING WAS THE FAILURE OF PACIFIC SOUTHWEST AIRLINES TO CATCH THE INCORRECT ASSEMBLY. AN ADDITIONAL FACTOR WAS THE USE OF FAULTY INFORMATION BY EASTERN AIRLINES AND THEIR DECISION TO NOT MAKE THE INSPECTION REQUIRED BY THE BOEING SERVICE LETTER.

## 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,nose gear assembly - failure,total (cause)
  - maintenance,overhaul - inadequate, other maintenance personnel (cause)
  - light condition - daylight
  - maintenance,service bulletin/letter - information insufficient, other maintenance personnel (contributing factor)
- Gear not extended, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

THE CREW OF A BOEING 727 WAS UNABLE TO LOWER THE NOSE LANDING GEAR BY EITHER NORMAL MEANS OR BY USE OF THE MANUAL HANDCRANK. A NOSE GEAR UP LANDING WITH AN EMERGENCY EVACUATION THROUGH THE L1/R1 EXITS WAS MADE. POST INCIDENT INVESTIGATION SHOWED THAT BOTH LINKS WHICH REMOVE THE LOCKING PAWLS IN THE NOSE GEAR DRAG BRACE WERE FRACTURED. WHEN EXAMINED AT BOEING METALLURGICAL LABORATORY, NO EVIDENCE WAS FOUND THAT BUSHINGS WERE INSTALLED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N915TS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N915TS-1997-05-13), registration cancelled 1997-05-13, S/N 20252 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 727-254
- Registry model: [Boeing 727-254](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-727-254) (registry code 138408L) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 20252
- Airframe hours: 35787
- Engines: P&W JT8D-7B 14000 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Registered owner: Trump Shuttle
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, July 29, 1988, 931 hours before
- Departed: LGA, FLUSHING, NY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: BOS, Logan Intl, runway 33L, 10,081 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 13,900 total, 7,500 in this make and model, 2,800 as pilot in command, 55 in the last 90 days, 38 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 150° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: BOS

## 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 19890810048589I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890810048589I), Aug 10, 1989: Boeing 727, Boston, MA, Minor damage. Unable to extend nose gear. Landed gear up. Evacuated passengers.

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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