Incident Overview

Date: Sunday 7 December 1997
Aircraft Type: Beechcraft A100 King Air
Owner/operator: Voyageur Airways
Registration Number: C-GILM
Location: Sioux Lookout Airport, ON (YXL) – ÿ Canada
Phase of Flight: Landing
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 4
Component Affected: Left Main Landing Gear (specifically the scissors and rear spar)Left Main Landing Gear (specifically the scissors and rear spar)
Category: Accident
A Beechcraft A100 aircraft, C-GILM, experienced a significant landing incident during a medevac flight from Winnipeg International Airport to Sioux Lookout Airport. The aircraft was attempting two full NDB approaches for runway 34, but failed due to a series of issues during the approach. The pilot initiated a full NDB approach, but encountered difficulties and ultimately experienced a high rate of descent, resulting in a forceful contact with the runway. The aircraft’s damage included a failed scissors, a damaged rear spar on the left wing, and ice accumulation on the wings. The incident highlights a critical failure in the aircraft’s handling system during a demanding landing scenario.A Beechcraft A100 aircraft, C-GILM, experienced a significant landing incident during a medevac flight from Winnipeg International Airport to Sioux Lookout Airport. The aircraft was attempting two full NDB approaches for runway 34, but failed due to a series of issues during the approach. The pilot initiated a full NDB approach, but encountered difficulties and ultimately experienced a high rate of descent, resulting in a forceful contact with the runway. The aircraft’s damage included a failed scissors, a damaged rear spar on the left wing, and ice accumulation on the wings. The incident highlights a critical failure in the aircraft’s handling system during a demanding landing scenario.

Description

A Voyageur Airways Beechcraft A100 aircraft, C-GILM, was on a flight from Winnipeg International Airport Winnipeg International Airport, MB (YWG) to Sioux Lookout Airport, ON (YXL). The crew of two pilots and two paramedics had completed a medevac flight and were returning to Sioux Lookout without a patient on board. The weather was reported to be: wind 060 degrees at two knots, visibility three statute miles in freezing drizzle, and ceiling overcast at 400 feet AGL. The First Officer was at the controls as they attempted two full NDB approaches for runway 34, each of which resulted in a missed approach. The captain then took control of the aircraft and conducted a full NDB approach for runway 34. On final approach, the crew had the runway in sight and the aircraft was lined up, but the aircraft was high on the approach. The captain called for full flap and pushed the props up to help slow the aircraft down. The aircraft developed a high rate of descent that was not fully countered before the aircraft contacted the runway firmly with the left main landing gear. The aircraft was taxied part way to the company ramp before the aircraft began pulling to the left very noticeably. The scissors had failed and the main wheels were turned slightly off-line. While conducting a heavy-landing inspection, company maintenance and operational personnel determined that in addition to the damage to the scissors for the left main landing gear, the rear spar of the left wing had failed in the vicinity of a pass-through hole for the flap actuator. The damage is reported to be overload in nature and consistent with the effects of landing hard on the left main wheel. During the approaches, the aircraft was above cloud during the penetration turns and was only in cloud during the final approach phases. A small amount of ice accumulated on the aircraft while in cloud (about 1/8th to 1/4 inch on the spinner remained after landing) but the de-ice equipment was working and was used.

Primary Cause

Failure of the scissors during a critical landing maneuver, compounded by a combination of factors including a high rate of descent, a loss of control, and a subsequent impact with the runway.Failure of the scissors during a critical landing maneuver, compounded by a combination of factors including a high rate of descent, a loss of control, and a subsequent impact with the runway.

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