Links JS31 at Doncaster on Aug 15th 2014, gear collapse on landing
Last Update: September 2, 2014 / 14:38:07 GMT/Zulu time
Incident Facts
Date of incident
Aug 15, 2014
Classification
Accident
Airline
Links Air
Flight number
LNQ-2307
Departure
Belfast City, United Kingdom
Destination
Doncaster, United Kingdom
Aircraft Registration
G-GAVA
Aircraft Type
BRITISH AEROSPACE Jetstream 31
ICAO Type Designator
JS31
The airport was closed until Saturday Aug 16th 14:45L (13:45Z).
The British AAIB dispatched investigators on site.
Observers of the landing initially reported the aircraft landed on its belly being unable to extend any of the gear.
The airline reported the aircraft "suffered an undercarriage problem on landing", the two crew and one passenger disembarked safely, the passenger was later taken to a hospital as precaution.
The aircraft had suffered the collapse of its right main gear in 2012, see Accident: Linksair JS31 at Isle of Man on Mar 8th 2012, runway excursion, gear collapse
On Sep 2nd 2014 the AAIB released a special bulletin stating that the aircraft touched down normally on runway 20 at 102 KIAS and a maximum vertical acceleration of +1.3G. When the aircraft slowed through 65 KIAS, 8 seconds after touch down, the left main gear detached from its mounts causing the aircraft to slid to a halt on its left wingtip, luggage pannier and remaining gear, the crew was unable to maintain directional control, the aircraft turned left, exited the runway and came to a stop after having turned about 90 degrees.
The AAIB reported that the flight data recorder had stored 82 landings with no anomaly causing concern except for the 18th landing prior to the accident, which had created a vertical acceleration of +1.72G, which still was within the load limit permitted for the landing gear.
The AAIB stated: "Preliminary findings indicate that the failure was initiated as a result of stress corrosion cracking in the forward yoke pintle at the top of the left landing gear leg. Further analysis is required to determine the precise details of the failure, however, the preliminary findings are of significance because the same aircraft, operating under a different registration, was involved in a similar accident in 2012 during which the right main landing gear failed. The subsequent investigation identified intergranular corrosion / stress corrosion cracking of the forward yoke pintle at the top of the main landing gear leg as the cause of that failure."
Summarizing the metallurgic examination the AAIB stated: "This provides strong evidence that the crack initiated due to stress corrosion cracking."
The AAIB reported that the aircraft had been in compliance with the latest service bulletins (SBs) and Airworthiness Directives (ADs) that were issued after the 2012 accident. As result of initial SBs and ADs a special washer had been introduced in order to prevent rather than just detect cracks, those washers had been installed on G-GAVA. It was found however during a visual inspection in March 2014, that the washers on both gear legs had rotated out of position, the main landing gears were reinstalled according to the service bulletin to correct the issue. Another check had been performed on Jun 30th 2014, 226 cycles prior to the accident, with no anomalies found. In the post accident examination the left hand washer was found in its correct position however bent, the investigation was not able to determine whether the tab was displaced or not prior to the accident. The right hand washer had rotated out of position again by about 15 degrees.
The AAIB concluded therefore that the measures to prevent and detect cracks as defined by current SBs and ADs were "not effective in preventing this accident." As result the AAIB released a safety recommendation of Europe's regulator EASA to "take action to assure the continued airworthiness of those BAE Systems Jetstream 31 main landing gear legs that are manufactured from DTD 5094 aluminium alloy and have SB 32-JM7862 embodied."
The AAIB further condemned the existing SBs and ADs as "inadequate" and stated that despite the subsequent updates "no substantive changes have been made". The AAIB therefore released a second safety recommendation to "take action to mandate an effective inspection regime for the Jetstream 31 that will detect cracking and prevent failure of the yoke pintle of main landing gear legs manufactured from DTD 5094 aluminium alloy."
Related NOTAMs:
C4281/14 - AD CLOSED DUE RUNWAY BLOCKED. 15 AUG 20:28 2014 UNTIL 16 AUG 12:00 2014 ESTIMATED. CREATED: 15 AUG 20:29 2014
Metars:
EGCN 152020Z 28007KT CAVOK 15/13 Q1020
EGCN 151950Z 22004KT 9999 FEW031 15/14 Q1020
EGCN 151920Z 21004KT 9999 FEW029 15/14 Q1019
EGCN 151850Z 22004KT 9999 FEW027 16/14 Q1019
EGCN 151820Z 26005KT 220V280 9999 FEW030 17/14 Q1019
EGCN 151750Z 25004KT 9999 FEW049 16/13 Q1019
EGCN 151720Z 27005KT 9999 FEW042 17/13 Q1019
EGCN 151650Z 30005KT 9999 FEW037 16/13 Q1019
EGCN 151620Z 31007KT 9999 FEW035 16/13 Q1018
Incident Facts
Date of incident
Aug 15, 2014
Classification
Accident
Airline
Links Air
Flight number
LNQ-2307
Departure
Belfast City, United Kingdom
Destination
Doncaster, United Kingdom
Aircraft Registration
G-GAVA
Aircraft Type
BRITISH AEROSPACE Jetstream 31
ICAO Type Designator
JS31
This article is published under license from Avherald.com. © of text by Avherald.com.
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