Orlando International Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Orlando, Florida 32827
Saturday, April 2, 1994 14:39 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHEN LANDING GEAR EXTENTION WAS ATTEMPTED IN PREPARATION FOR LANDING, THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR DID NOT EXTEND. THE PILOT MADE A GO-AROUND, COMPLETED THE REQUIRED EMERGENCY PROCEDURES, COULD NOT LOWER THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR, AND DIVERTED TO ANOTHER AIRPORT. THE PILOT LANDED WITH THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR IN THE RETRACTED POSITION. THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED MINOR DAMAGE. THE 9 CREWMEMBERS AND 141 PASSENGERS WERE NOT INJURED. EXAMINATION OF THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR DISCLOSED A BROKEN LANDING GEAR DOOR ACTUATOR FITTING. SEVERAL SERVICE BULLETINS HAD BEEN ISSUED OUTLINING REPETITIVE INSPECTIONS PROCEDURES AIMED AT PREVENTING SUCH FAILURES. THE OPERATOR HAD COMPLIED WITH ALL APPLICABLE SERVICE BULLETINS AND AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The total failure of the left main landing gear door actuator fitting due to fatigue cracking in the fitting. Contributing to the accident was inadequate written inspection procedures by the aircraft manufacturer.

Event Information

Type of Event Incident
Event Date 4/2/1994
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1439
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City ORLANDO
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 32827
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport ORLANDO INTERNATIONAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID MCO
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 96
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1620 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID MCO
Elevation of weather observation facility 96
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4900
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 50
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 150
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 5011
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 2 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1515
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 11:03AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N59412
NTSB Number MIA94IA110
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 121: Air Carrier
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Minor
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BOEING
Aircraft Model 727-243
Aircraft Series Identifier 727-243
Aircraft Serial Number 22053
Certified Max Gross Weight 175500
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 158
Number of Engines 3
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection Feb 25 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 299
Airframe Hours 34039
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CONTINENTAL AIRLINES
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2929 ALLEN PARKWAY
Aircraft Owner City HOUSTON
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 77021
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code CALA
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code EWR
Departure City NEWARK
Departure State NJ
Departure Country
Departure Time 1045
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code RSW
Destination City FT. MYERS
Destination State FL
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 20 2002 12:42PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 18R
Runway Length 12004
Runway Width 200
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --