Incident Overview
Date: Wednesday 1 March 2000
Aircraft Type: Airbus A320-231
Owner/operator: South African Airways – SAA
Registration Number: ZS-SHD
Location: Lusaka International Airport (LUN/FLKK) –
ÿ Zambia
Phase of Flight: Landing
Status: Substantial, repaired
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 149
Component Affected: Aircraft Landing Gear (Main Landing Gear)Aircraft Landing Gear (Main Landing Gear)
Category: Accident
During the last few seconds before touchdown on runway 10, an unexpected gust of wind caused the aircraft to drift significantly, leading to a loss of forward visibility due to heavy rain. The aircraft subsequently skidded off the runway to the right, collapsing the starboard main landing gear, resulting in contact with the runway surface. The aircraft landed 1042 meters after touchdown, with its nose facing to the left, and its wheels skidding over open manholes.During the last few seconds before touchdown on runway 10, an unexpected gust of wind caused the aircraft to drift significantly, leading to a loss of forward visibility due to heavy rain. The aircraft subsequently skidded off the runway to the right, collapsing the starboard main landing gear, resulting in contact with the runway surface. The aircraft landed 1042 meters after touchdown, with its nose facing to the left, and its wheels skidding over open manholes.
Description
During the last few seconds before touchdown on runway 10, the aircraft encountered a sudden gust of wind that increased the drift angle and the pilot lost forward visibility due to a downpour of rain. The aircraft landed to the right of the centre line of the runway with its nose facing to the left. It skidded off the wet runway and the wheels skidded over open manholes next to the runway. The starboard main landing gear collapsed causing the starboard engine to contact the runway surface when the aircraft entered back onto the runway. The aircraft came to rest 1042 m after touchdown with its nose 30 m from the runway edge.
Primary Cause
Sudden gust of wind and subsequent loss of forward visibility due to heavy rain.Sudden gust of wind and subsequent loss of forward visibility due to heavy rain.Share on:
