ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 356241
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| Date: | Monday 17 February 1997 |
| Time: | 13:59 LT |
| Type: |  McDonnell Douglas MD-82 |
| Owner/operator: | Continental Airlines |
| Registration: | N34838 |
| MSN: | 49634/1419 |
| Engine model: | P&W JT8D |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 147 |
| Aircraft damage: | Minor |
| Category: | Serious incident |
| Location: | Newark, NJ -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Landing |
| Nature: | Unknown |
| Departure airport: | Denver, CO (KDIA) |
| (KEWR) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The crew experienced an unsafe nose gear light on approach to landing. After recycling the gear, all indications were that the gear was down and locked. The airplane landed on runway 4R during which the nose gear collapsed; the airplane skidded to a stop. Examination of the airplane revealed the nose landing gear upper lock link had fractured. The lock link had accumulated 28,978 service hours and 24,511 cycles since original manufacture. The lock link was overhauled 13,515 and 6,317 hours prior to the failure. A metallurgical examination revealed the upper lock link was fractured through the 'I' beam section near its lower end about 3 inches from the overcenter pivot with the lower lock link. The fracture features were typical of fatigue which progressed over a large portion of the fracture. No mechanical, corrosion, or manufacturing discontinuities were visible at the fatigue origin. At the time of the failure, there was an Airworthiness Directive AD-97-02-10 about the upper lock link. It required inspections of assemblies prior to 10,000 total cycles or within 90 days of its issue, February 11, 1997, whichever came later. Continental Airlines was in the process of inspecting its entire fleet of affected aircraft when this incident occurred.
Probable Cause: fatigue fracture of the upper lock link, which led to the collapse of the nose gear during landing.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB IAD97IA048
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 12-Mar-2024 20:31 | ASN Update Bot | Added |
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