Boeing 737-3H4 N309SW

Summary

On 18 August 1995 at about 16:55 local time, a Boeing 737-3H4 registered N309SW was involved in an incident near Lubbock, Texas, United States. 114 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was slightly damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

18 August 1995 at 16:55

Classification

Incident

Location

Lubbock, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Lubbock International (LBB)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Boeing 737-3H4

Registration

N309SW

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 121: Air Carrier

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Albuquerque

Aircraft damage

Minor

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW95IA348

Nobody was injured.

installation of an incorrect bearing in the number three main wheel by the wheel assembly supplier, which led to subsequent failure of the wheel bearing and separation of the wheel during takeoff.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

During takeoff at Lubbock, Texas, the number three wheel assembly separated from the axle. The aircrew continued the flight and landed uneventfully at Albuquerque, New Mexico. Company maintenance records indicated the wheel assembly was last replaced on August 16, 1995. Examination of the aircraft revealed that the axle nut was intact on the axle along with the tang washer. The axle nut locking ring was also in place. The outer bearing was found deteriorated with only its inner race remaining, and the inner bearing remained intact on the axle. Examination of the components revealed that, an incorrect inner bearing had been installed inadvertently by the wheel assembly supplier on the number three wheel assembly. A Timkin part number 594 bearing was installed in lieu of the correct Timkin part number 596 bearing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.