Earlier this month (June '08), a MASWings Fokker 50, registration 9M-MGJ from landed at Sibu Airport without the nose landing gear (that's the front tyres in layman's term). The airplane took off from Kota Kinabalu International at dawn that day and was bound for Kuching, transitting at Sibu en-route.
The aircraft belly landed in Sibu at approximately 8am and fortunately all 26 passengers escaped the ordeal unhurt.
Pic taken on the night of the incident. Looks like the propeller blades just about cleared the ground. Otherwise, the whole drama could have ended more catastrophically.
9M-MGJ at the parking apron. Note the partially open front landing gear door.
Close up view of the nose being supported off a baggage cart.
The damage looked superficial but it is prudent to warrant a thorough inspection of the aircraft's structure and subsystems prior to returning the aircraft back to airworthiness. In the photo above, exposed wiring can clearly be seen from the damaged fuselage.
Apparently, the drama unfolded when, during final approach, the doors to the front undercarriage failed to open fully when the pilot tried to lower the landing gear lever. There is a backup system for lowering the gear on board the Fokker 50 which is electrically powered but it is not known whether the pilot attempted to use it.
Fokker 50 flightdeck (click to enlarge and see marked up location of main and alternate landing gear levers)
2 comments:
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