Incident Overview
Eastern Airlines Flight 29, a Lockheed L-1011, was operating a scheduled flight from New York to Miami International Airport. The aircraft completed the landing roll without immediate incident. However, during the landing roll, the flight crew observed a red warning light indicating a problem with the left main landing gear.
Post-Flight Inspection
After the aircraft came to a stop and provisions were made to deplane passengers, maintenance personnel examined the left landing gear. The inspection revealed a complete fracture of the main landing gear strut cylinder. The fracture originated from the bore of the inboard retract actuator.
Metallurgical Analysis
Further examination of the fracture surfaces showed evidence of stress corrosion cracking. The exact mechanisms and timeline of the crack propagation were not detailed in the initial report.
Aircraft and Operator
The aircraft involved was a Lockheed L-1011 operated by Eastern Airlines. The registration and engine type were not specified in the source. The flight was a scheduled domestic service.
No Reported Injuries
The incident did not result in any reported injuries to passengers or crew. The aircraft remained on the runway after landing and was towed to the gate for inspection.
Conclusion of Investigation
The investigation did not assign a formal probable cause in the source material, but the presence of stress corrosion cracking was identified as the underlying material failure.