Incident Overview

Date: Saturday 7 November 2015
Aircraft Type: Beechcraft B300 King Air 350
Owner/operator: National Airborne Service Corps – NASC
Registration Number: NA-302
Location: Taichung-Ching Chuan Kang Airport (RMQ) – ÿ Taiwan
Phase of Flight: Landing
Status: Substantial
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 4
Component Affected: Landing Gear Extension SystemLanding Gear Extension System
Investigating Agency: ASCASC
Category: Accident
On July 26, 2023, a Beechcraft 300 Super King Air 350 experienced an incident during a local aerial photography flight at Taichung-Ching Chuan Airport (RMQ). Due to a tripped 2-ampere circuit breaker, which controlled power to the landing gear, the motor was disabled, preventing the aircraft from operating to build up hydraulic pressure. The aircraft landed on Runway 18 after the crew initiated a manual extension procedure, resulting in the undercarriage retracting upon touchdown. Investigation revealed a potential failure in the landing gear extension procedure due to insufficient pressure within the landing gear system. The incident stemmed from a pre-existing indication of an incorrect landing gear status, exacerbated by the tripped circuit breaker, which ultimately led to the aircraft landing on its belly.On July 26, 2023, a Beechcraft 300 Super King Air 350 experienced an incident during a local aerial photography flight at Taichung-Ching Chuan Airport (RMQ). Due to a tripped 2-ampere circuit breaker, which controlled power to the landing gear, the motor was disabled, preventing the aircraft from operating to build up hydraulic pressure. The aircraft landed on Runway 18 after the crew initiated a manual extension procedure, resulting in the undercarriage retracting upon touchdown. Investigation revealed a potential failure in the landing gear extension procedure due to insufficient pressure within the landing gear system. The incident stemmed from a pre-existing indication of an incorrect landing gear status, exacerbated by the tripped circuit breaker, which ultimately led to the aircraft landing on its belly.

Description

The Beechcraft 300 Super King Air 350 took off Taichung-Ching Chuan Kang Airport (RMQ) at 10:34 hours for a local aerial photography flight. Due to the 2-ampere circuit breaker which controls power source for the landing gear popped, electricity for the power pack was cut off so the motor could not operate to build up pressure to the hydraulic system. On approach the undercarriage indicator lights showed the gear was not down and locked. A warning sounded as the crew prepared for landing. Instead of executing the manual extension procedure as required, the flight crew decided to land anyway. This resulted in the undercarriage to retract upon touching down on runway 18 at Taichung. There were no personal injuries. The plane sustained damage to the propellers and belly. Findings related to probable causes: 1. The 2-ampere circuit breaker which controls power source for the landing gear popped up after the occurrence aircraft having landed shows that electricity for the power pack was cut off when the aircraft was in the process of landing, so the motor could not operate to build up pressure. 2. When the occurrence aircraft was landing the first time, abnormal status of the indicating light for the landing gear down-and-locked was already existed. It was possible that the 2-ampere circuit breaker which controls the power for power pack of the landing gear had popped up before the first landing attempt, thus incapacitating the hydraulic system, rendering it impossible to build up necessary pressure for operating the landing gear. The subsequent two more operations by the flight crew to lower and down lock the landing gear also failed due to insufficient pressure within the landing gear system. 3. During the occurrence aircraft landing, the landing gear not down and lock indication and warning sound came out when the flight crew extended the landing gear and flaps. The flight crew erroneously judged the not down and lock indication and warning were false alarm. Instead of executing the manual extension procedure as required by the operation manual to lower and down lock the landing gear, the flight crew decided to land anyway. The heavy weight of the aircraft causing all landing gear to retract upon touching ground and causing the aircraft landed on its belly.

Primary Cause

1. The 2-ampere circuit breaker tripped, interrupting power to the landing gear, causing the motor to fail to operate.1. The 2-ampere circuit breaker tripped, interrupting power to the landing gear, causing the motor to fail to operate.

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