Miami International Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Miami, Florida 33148
Saturday, July 19, 1986 18:11 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

FLT WAS UNABLE TO EXTEND NOSE GEAR AND A NOSE GEAR UP LANDING WAS MADE. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE NOSE GEAR DRAG BRACE TO BE LOCKED IN THE UP POSITION. DISASSEMBLY OF THE DRAG BRACE REVEALED THE LINK ASSEMBLIES WHICH CONNECT THE LOCKING PAWLS TO THE LOCKING ACTUATOR HAD FAILED. METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION REVEALED THE LINK ASSEMBLIES FAILED DUE TO CORROSION CRACKING. CORROSION WAS CAUSED BY ELECTROLYTIC REACTION BETWEEN THE METAL IN THE BUSHING OF THE LINK AND THE METAL OF THE LINK. EXAMINATION OF THE BUSHINGS INSTALLED IN THE LINK REVEALED THE ABSENCE OF CADMIUM PLATING AND CHROMATE COATING. THE BUSHINGS WERE OBTAINED BY EASTERN AIRLINES FROM A VENDOR WHO WAS MANUFACTURING THE PART USING PLANS SUPPLIED BY EASTERN. THE EASTERN PLANS CALL FOR CADMIUM PLATING AND CHROMATE COATING.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Incident
Event Date 7/19/1986
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1811
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City MIAMI
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 33148
Event Date Year 1986
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport MIAMI INTERNATIONAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID MIA
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 10
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1812 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID MIA
Elevation of weather observation facility 10
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3000
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) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 32
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 22
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 140
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) 1800
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 99
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 5023
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 19 1986 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1810
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 31805
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:14AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8872Z
NTSB Number MIA86IA213
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 727-225
Aircraft Series Identifier 727-225
Aircraft Serial Number 21290
Certified Max Gross Weight 168000
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 157
Number of Engines 3
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection AAIP
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name BANKERS TRUST COMPANY
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 318 CHURCH ST. STA.
Aircraft Owner City NEW YORK
Aircraft Owner State NY
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 10015
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name EASTERN AIR LINES,INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address MIAMI INT'L AIRPORT
Operator City MIAMI
Operator State FL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 33148
Operator Code EALA
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 International
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 MKJP
Departure City KINGSTON
Departure State OF
Departure Country
Departure Time 1600
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
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 9R
Runway Length 13000
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --