727 100 fuel airways

Some time ago I presented you my company Fuel Airways on a Boeing 727-200 cargo plane. As a reminder, this cargo company based in Angola transported equipment, food and fuel for the diamond mines spread all over the country when transport by truck and train was not possible.
Throughout its operation, Fuel Airways operated four aircraft. This Boeing 727-100 left the Boeing factory on September 4, 1965. It was part of an order of 11 aircraft for the German company located in Hamburg European Transport. After flying there for 12 years, it joined the Cape Verde archipelago where it flew for more than 10 years. After more than 22 years of service it is finally bought by the Angolan company. It joined the airport of Luanda on March 12, 1987 after having undergone a transformation in cargo. It flew there until April 2003 when it was withdrawn from service.

On May 8, 1997, while the crew was launching for takeoff on runway 07 of Luanda airport for the last rotation of the day to supply a mine in the center of the country, the plane went off the runway, damaging the plane. The incident took place at 18:37.

After taxiing and lining up, air traffic control gave the go-ahead for take-off. As the plane started to gain speed, a thud sounded. After a quick look, the mechanic detects a strong loss of power and an abnormally high temperature on the right engine. Not having reached their speed of rotation, the captain announces the interruption of the takeoff. While the mechanic takes care of the right engine, the captain and the first officer are busy stopping the plane. The speed drops, the plane slows down. Everything seemed to be going well, until the left brakes broke hydraulically (because of a bad maintenance and material fatigue). Surprised, the crew lost the control of the plane a few seconds, before taking the hands back. But the damage was done. The plane went off the runway and ended up in the ditch, causing the nose gear to buckle.

The plane spent 3 long weeks on the tarmac to be repaired. Not having any maintenance hangars, the work took place in the open air, forcing the mechanics to be ingenious and to play with the weather.

After a test flight and several controls, the plane resumed the flights towards the mines.

Thanks to Makka for the advice regarding the doors.