Ontario International Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Ontario, California 91761
Tuesady, April 30, 1996 14:36 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported an unresolved main landing gear problem and orbited the area performing normal emergency gear extension procedures without success. The pilot performed low 'G' maneuvers and touch-and-go landings in an attempt to lower the left main gear. The pilot diverted to another airport where an emergency landing was made with minor damage and no injuries. The landing gear was removed and disassembled. The upper bearing carriers and bearing half shells were found out of position in the upper portion of the oleo strut. The subsequent over extension of the strut was a result of the gradual breakup of the bearings and bearing carriers due to improper/incompatible wear surfaces from the repair facility's improper assembly at overhaul. The compression/extension measurements after installation were not required.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The repair facility's improper assembly of the landing gear oleo strut during overhaul.

Event Information

Type of Event Incident
Event Date 4/30/1996
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1436
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City ONTARIO
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 91761
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport ONTARIO INTERNATIONAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID KONT
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 925
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1550 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID ONT
Elevation of weather observation facility 925
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 30
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 32
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 230
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
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 132
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 5007
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 30 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1510
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 9:56AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N331SW
NTSB Number LAX96IA184
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 737-300-3H4
Aircraft Series Identifier 737-300-3H
Aircraft Serial Number 23695
Certified Max Gross Weight 130000
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 145
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection Apr 16 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 129
Airframe Hours 26697
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SOUTHWEST AIRLINES, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2833 SHORECREST DRIVE
Aircraft Owner City DALLAS
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 75235
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 36611
Operator City DALLAS
Operator State TX
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 75235
Operator Code SWAA
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 LAS
Departure City LAS VEGAS
Departure State NV
Departure Country
Departure Time 1500
Departure Time Zone PST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code BUR
Destination City BURBANK
Destination State CA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 26R
Runway Length 12200
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --