Emerald AT72 at Belfast on Dec 30th 2023, nose gear damage

Last Update: May 11, 2024 / 15:40:35 GMT/Zulu time

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Incident Facts

Date of incident
Dec 30, 2023

Classification
Accident

Airline
Emerald

Flight number
EI-3651

Departure
Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Destination
Belfast City, United Kingdom

Aircraft Registration
G-CMMT

Aircraft Type
ATR ATR-72-200

ICAO Type Designator
AT72

Airport
George Best Belfast City Airport, Belfast

Airport ICAO Code
EGAC

An Emerald Avions de Transport Regional ATR-72-212A on behalf of Aer Lingus, registration G-CMMT performing flight EI-3651 from Edinburgh,SC to Belfast City,NI (UK), was on final approach to Belfast's runway 22 at 09:29L (09:29Z) when the crew initiated a go from about 200 feet AGL (about 825 feet transponder altitude corrected for ambient pressure). The aircraft climbed to 3000 feet and later 4000 feet and entered a hold, then commenced another approach to runway 22 resulting in touch down in the touch down zone about 20 minutes after the first go around but initiated a go around again (balked landing) and again climbed to 3000 feet later 4000 feet. The aircraft diverted to Belfast's Aldergrove Airport for a safe landing on runway 07 about 50 minutes after the first go around.

The aircraft is still on the ground in Belfast 13 days after the occurrence.

The British AAIB rated the occurrence an accident and opened an investigation reasoning that the aircraft sustained substantial damage and stating that the nose landing gear was found damaged after landing.

On May 10th 2024 the AAIB released their bulletin reporting that both left main and nose landing gear needed to be replaced as result of the occurrence and concluded the probable causes of the occurrence were:

The landing gear sustained damage during a heavy touch down after the aircraft became destabilised, due to wind effects experienced during the flare, immediately before touchdown.

The AAIB summarized: "The left main landing gear and nose landing gear contacted the runway heavily during a second approach to Belfast City Airport in gusty wind conditions. The commander elected to go-around and diverted to Belfast Aldergrove Airport, where the aircraft landed uneventfully. The left main landing gear and the nose landing gear required replacement because of excessive loads and visible damage."

The AAIB described the aircraft damage: "The operator reported that the nosewheel tyres were damaged and when the wheels were removed, the left nosewheel axle was slightly bent. The flight data showed an acceleration of approximately 2.2 g in the normal axis when the aircraft contacted the runway before the go-around. The aircraft manufacturer assessed that the left main landing gear and the nose landing gear had both experienced loads beyond their allowable limits and required replacement before the aircraft could be returned into service."

Metars:
EGAC 301150Z AUTO 22014KT 9999 -RA FEW020/// SCT043/// //////CB 09/07 Q0988 RERA=
EGAC 301120Z 17014G24KT 3500 RA FEW009 SCT016CB BKN021 09/09 Q0987 RERA=
EGAC 301020Z AUTO 13020G35KT 2400 +RA SCT007/// BKN011/// OVC019/// //////CB 07/06 Q0989=
EGAC 300950Z AUTO 12023G35KT 2700 +RA OVC008/// //////CB 06/05 Q0991=
EGAC 300920Z AUTO 12018G29KT 4500 RA BKN012/// OVC020/// //////CB 06/05 Q0992=
EGAC 300850Z AUTO 13013KT 100V170 4900 -RA BKN020/// OVC034/// //////CB 06/05 Q0993=
EGAC 300820Z AUTO 12016KT 6000 -RA SCT022/// BKN026/// BKN033/// //////CB 06/04 Q0994=
EGAC 300750Z AUTO 12014KT 6000 -RA OVC023/// //////CB 06/04 Q0996=
EGAC 300720Z AUTO 13010G20KT 100V170 9000 -RA FEW020/// SCT028/// OVC035/// //////TCU 06/04 Q0997=
EGAC 300650Z AUTO 14007KT 110V170 9999 -RA FEW026 BKN035 OVC043 05/03 Q0998=
Incident Facts

Date of incident
Dec 30, 2023

Classification
Accident

Airline
Emerald

Flight number
EI-3651

Departure
Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Destination
Belfast City, United Kingdom

Aircraft Registration
G-CMMT

Aircraft Type
ATR ATR-72-200

ICAO Type Designator
AT72

Airport
George Best Belfast City Airport, Belfast

Airport ICAO Code
EGAC

This article is published under license from Avherald.com. © of text by Avherald.com.
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