United Airlines 747SP N531PA (c/n: 21023) operated a flight from MEL to SYD.
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: www.atsb.gov.au
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