AUSTIN, TX, USA
N32717
BOEING 727-200
THE LEFT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED & PARTIALLY SEPARATED FROM THE ACFT STRUCTURE. EXAMINATION OF THE GEAR ASSEMBLY REVEALED A FAILED DRAG STRUT ASSEMBLY #65-57903-11. THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF A PRE-EXISTING CRACK PRIOR TO THE STRUT SEPARATION. THE STRESS CORROSION CRACKING PROBABLY INITIATED FROM PREVIOUS DAMAGE TO THE OUTER SURFACE OF THE STRUT CYLINDER RESULTING FROM A TIRE BLOWOUT INCIDENT WHICH OCCURRED ON 3/10/82. EITHER A SMALL CRACK OR GROUP OF CRACKS INITIATED IN THE STRUT AT THE TIME OF THE PRIOR DAMAGE, OR THE DAMAGE WAS SEVERE ENOUGH TO DISRUPT THE INTEGRITY OF THE SURFACE FINISH & PRODUCE A NOTCH AND/OR UNFAVORABLE RESIDUAL STRESS WHICH MADE THE STRUT SUSCEPTABLE TO STRESS CORROSION CRACKING IN THIS AREA.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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