Incident Overview

Date: Wednesday 8 August 1973
Aircraft Type: Boeing 727-171C
Owner/operator: Braniff International Airways
Registration Number: N1728T
Location: near Washington, DC – ÿ United States of America
Phase of Flight: En route
Status: Substantial, repaired
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 81
Component Affected: Right main gear braking systemRight main gear braking system
Investigating Agency: NTSBNTSB
Category: Accident
Approximately 15 minutes after takeoff, the crew reported a loud bang and experienced loss of hydraulic and cabin pressure. The crew immediately declared an emergency and returned to Washington. Upon landing, the right main gear was found to be non-down and locked, necessitating a manual landing on a foamed runway. Investigation revealed a damaged wheel lock-out deboost valve caused the brake dragging of the right main gear. A fire in the number 4 tyre resulted in its blowing out during flight.Approximately 15 minutes after takeoff, the crew reported a loud bang and experienced loss of hydraulic and cabin pressure. The crew immediately declared an emergency and returned to Washington. Upon landing, the right main gear was found to be non-down and locked, necessitating a manual landing on a foamed runway. Investigation revealed a damaged wheel lock-out deboost valve caused the brake dragging of the right main gear. A fire in the number 4 tyre resulted in its blowing out during flight.

Description

About 15 minutes after takeoff the crew heard a loud bang. Both hydraulic systems and cabin pressure were lost, so the crew declared an emergency and returned to Washington. The landing gear was lowered manually, but the right main gear did not indicate down and locked. An emergency landing on a foamed runway was carried out. Investigation revealed that a damaged wheel lock-out deboost valve caused the brake of the right main gear to drag. The number 4 tyre caught fire and blew out during flight. PROBABLEÿCAUSE(S): personnelÿ-ÿmaintenance,servicing,inspection:ÿinadequateÿmaintenanceÿandÿinspection airframeÿ-ÿlandingÿgear:ÿbrakingÿsystemÿ(normalÿsystem) miscellaneousÿacts,conditionsÿ-ÿimproperÿclearance-tolerance miscellaneousÿacts,conditionsÿ-ÿfireÿinÿbrakes,wheelÿassembly,wheelÿwell FACTOR(S): miscellaneousÿacts,conditionsÿ-ÿlandedÿonÿfoamedÿrunway

Primary Cause

Personnel-maintenance, servicing, inspection: inadequate maintenance and inspection of the airframe landing gear braking system, and proper maintenance and inspection of the wheel assembly.Personnel-maintenance, servicing, inspection: inadequate maintenance and inspection of the airframe landing gear braking system, and proper maintenance and inspection of the wheel assembly.

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