Pilot Debrief

DeHavilland DHC-8-311 near Philadelphia, PA — 2008-11-16

Final reportERA09IA056
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Date
2008-11-16
Location
Philadelphia, PA, USA
Airport
PHL
Aircraft
DeHavilland DHC-8-311
Registration
N326EN
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

The mechanical overload of the nosewheel steering links for undetermined reasons, which resulted in nose landing gear rotation and its subsequent wedging within the wheel well structure.

NTSB narrative

The airplane was on approach for landing. When the landing gear was selected to the extended position, the main landing gear extended properly but the nose landing gear did not. The crew performed a go-around, exited the airport airspace, and unsuccessfully attempted to extend the nose landing gear using several checklists and in consult with ground-based maintenance personnel. A subsequent fly-by of the air traffic control tower confirmed that the nose landing gear doors were open, but that the nose landing gear was not extended. The captain subsequently landed the airplane with the nose landing gear retracted and delayed lowering the nose until the slowest speed possible. The nose of the airplane contacted the runway and the airplane slid for about 525 feet before it stopped. There was no fire, and the passengers deplaned normally at the scene. On-site examination of the airplane and a laboratory examination of the nosegear components revealed that the steering links had been circumferentially loaded in tension beyond their load-carrying capacity. Failure of the steering links allowed the nosewheels to rotate in the wheel well and become wedged within the structure. Hardness testing satisfied the manufacturer's minimum requirements and no determination could be made as to when the overload occurred.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Mechanical failure
First missed decision gate
Performing a thorough inspection of the nose gear before takeoff.

NTSB coding

  • Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) · Approach

Evidence available

  • CVR
  • FDR / data
  • 14 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents14

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