Incident Overview

Date: Sunday 2 April 2000
Aircraft Type: Boeing 747-244B
Owner/operator: South African Airways – SAA
Registration Number: ZS-SAL
Location: London Heathrow Airport (LHR/EGLL) – ÿ United Kingdom
Phase of Flight: Taxi
Status: Substantial
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants:
Component Affected: Landing gear (No 2 wheel, Right Main Gear Door, Right Wing Landing Gear)Landing gear (No 2 wheel, Right Main Gear Door, Right Wing Landing Gear)
Investigating Agency: AAIBAAIB
Category: Accident
On 2-4-2000, a taxying incident occurred at London Heathrow Airport during a scheduled flight to Johannesburg. The aircraft experienced a loud bang and a slight bump, followed by the activation of anti-skid warning lights on the right wing landing gear. A passenger reported a tyre rolling across the grass between the taxiway and the runway, which triggered an inspection by airport personnel. Examination revealed complete detachment of the inboard rim of the No 2 wheel, causing damage to the right main gear door, right wing landing gear, and folding door. A wiring conduit was severed, impacting the anti-skid units wiring.On 2-4-2000, a taxying incident occurred at London Heathrow Airport during a scheduled flight to Johannesburg. The aircraft experienced a loud bang and a slight bump, followed by the activation of anti-skid warning lights on the right wing landing gear. A passenger reported a tyre rolling across the grass between the taxiway and the runway, which triggered an inspection by airport personnel. Examination revealed complete detachment of the inboard rim of the No 2 wheel, causing damage to the right main gear door, right wing landing gear, and folding door. A wiring conduit was severed, impacting the anti-skid units wiring.

Description

On 2-4-2000, sustained damage to left wing landing gear No 2 wheel, right main gear door, and right wing landing gear during taxying at London Heathrow Airport on a scheduled flight to Johannesburg. No injuries reported to the passengers and crew (exact numbers of passengers and crew not reported). “Towards the end of the taxi out to the hold for Runway 9R, which was reported to have been conducted at speeds no higher than 9 knots, the crew heard a loud bang and felt a slight ?bump?. Almost immediately all of the anti-skid warning lights associated with the right wing landing gear illuminated on the flight deck. About this time a passenger informed the cabin crew that he had seen a tyre roll from under the aircraft across the grass, between the taxiway and the runway. The aircraft stopped at the holding point and was duly inspected by airport personnel. It was evident that the inboard rim of the No 2 wheel (front inboard wheel of the left wing landing gear) had completely detached from the wheel and this had allowed the tyre to come off. After wheels Nos 1 and 2 had been changed, the aircraft was towed back to the gate where the passengers disembarked normally” Further examination of the aircraft revealed that fragments of the failed inboard rim had been jettisoned by the released inboard wall of the tyre and caused impact damage to the right main gear door, the right wing landing gear and its folding door. In addition, a wiring conduit which was mounted on the right wing gear drag brace, and contained the anti-skid units wiring, had been severed in two places.

Source of Information

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5422ee16ed915d13740001df/Boeing_747-200__ZS-SAL_12-2000.pdf, https://saahistory.wordpress.com/aircraft/historial-aircraft/boeing-747-200/zs-sal/, https://www.planespotters.net/airframe/Boeing/747/20237/ZS-SAL-South-African-Airways, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3A97az_-_South_African_Airways_Boeing_747-200%3B_ZS-SAL%40ZRH%3B17.06.2000_(5553213640).jpghttps://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5422ee16ed915d13740001df/Boeing_747-200__ZS-SAL_12-2000.pdf, https://saahistory.wordpress.com/aircraft/historial-aircraft/boeing-747-200/zs-sal/, https://www.planespotters.net/airframe/Boeing/747/20237/ZS-SAL-South-African-Airways, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3A97az_-_South_African_Airways_Boeing_747-200%3B_ZS-SAL%40ZRH%3B17.06.2000_(5553213640).jpg

Primary Cause

Failed tyre detachment during taxying, resulting in damage to landing gear components.Failed tyre detachment during taxying, resulting in damage to landing gear components.

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