Incident Overview

Date: Friday 23 May 1986
Aircraft Type: Boeing 747SP-21
Owner/operator: Pan American World Airways (Pan Am)
Registration Number: N531PA
Location: Sydney-Kingsford Smith International Airport, NSW (SYD/YSSY) – ÿ Australia
Phase of Flight: Landing
Status: Substantial
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 69
Component Affected: Landing gear trunnion on the left wing.Landing gear trunnion on the left wing.
Investigating Agency: BASIBASI
Category: Accident
An aircraft experienced a significant landing issue during approach, exhibiting a left-wing list and a hydraulic fluid reduction. The left wing door opening light activated, followed by a reduction in hydraulic fluid quantity. The aircraft was taxied to the terminal, and subsequent inspection revealed a damaged landing gear trunnion, resulting from a stress corrosion crack initiated by corrosion. The manufacturer provided a service bulletin addressing this potential issue, which had not yet been fully implemented on this aircraft.An aircraft experienced a significant landing issue during approach, exhibiting a left-wing list and a hydraulic fluid reduction. The left wing door opening light activated, followed by a reduction in hydraulic fluid quantity. The aircraft was taxied to the terminal, and subsequent inspection revealed a damaged landing gear trunnion, resulting from a stress corrosion crack initiated by corrosion. The manufacturer provided a service bulletin addressing this potential issue, which had not yet been fully implemented on this aircraft.

Description

After an apparently normal approach the Captain and First Officer reported a firmer landing than expected. Towards the latter part of the landing roll the crew noticed that the aircraft had a slight list to the left. While the aircraft was being turned off the runway the “left wing door open” warning light illuminated. This was followed by an indication of a reduction in the hydraulic fluid quantity in the number 4 system. The appropriate check list was completed and the aircraft was taxied to the terminal. As the aircraft approached its designated parking position the engineering ground crew noticed that a section of the left wing landing gear was protruding through the upper surface of the wing. The aircraft was immediately shut down and all the occupants disembarked. Inspection of the aircraft found that the rear section of the landing gear trunnion in the left wing had failed. A metallurgical examination of the trunnion determined that the fracture was caused by the growth of a stress corrosion crack, which was followed by the growth of an unstable ductile crack. The aircraft manufacturer issued a service bulletin, several years previously, to cover the possibility of cracking in the trunnion caused by corrosion. The work required by the service bulletin had only been partially completed on this aircraft at the time of the accident.

Source of Information

https://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/1986/aair/aair198602326/, https://www.atsb.gov.au/media/33523/aair198602326.pdf, http://www.aussieairliners.org/b-747sp/n531pa/n531pa.htmlhttps://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/1986/aair/aair198602326/, https://www.atsb.gov.au/media/33523/aair198602326.pdf, http://www.aussieairliners.org/b-747sp/n531pa/n531pa.html

Primary Cause

Stress corrosion cracking initiated by corrosion of a landing gear trunnion.Stress corrosion cracking initiated by corrosion of a landing gear trunnion.

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