N57TH

On July 30, 1994, at 1205 eastern daylight time, a Boeing A75-N1, N57TH was substantially damaged following a collision with a taxi-way sign and runway edge light at Dekalb-Peachtree Airport in Chamblee, Georgia. Neither the commercial pilot, nor his passenger were injured in the accident. The aircraft was operated by American East Airways, under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time, and no flight plan had been filed for the local, personal flight.

The pilot stated that during the landing on runway 2L, the left main landing gear strut collapsed. The aircraft veered off the runway to the left, and struck a taxi-way sign and landing light prior to coming to a stop.

Examination of the aircraft revealed that the left main landing gear shock absorbing strut was fractured, and the landing gear had collapsed. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who examined the accident site stated that there was no evidence of a hard landing. He also stated that a review of the aircraft records failed to establish a total time for the failed component. Additionally, a Malfunction or Defect report submitted by an airworthiness inspector indicated that a fatigue failure of the upper shock strut cylinder was believed to have occurred (attached).