Incident Overview
Date: Wednesday 21 February 2018
Aircraft Type: Cessna 208B Grand Caravan
Owner/operator: Army Parachute Association
Registration Number: G-BZAH
Location: Netheravon Airport –
ÿ United Kingdom
Phase of Flight: Landing
Status: Minor, repaired
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Component Affected: Nose landing gear drag link springNose landing gear drag link spring
Investigating Agency: AAIBAAIB
Category: Accident
During a normal landing, the pilot reported a loud bang, followed by a noticeable reduction in nose attitude. An inspection revealed a failed nose landing gear drag link spring, caused by moisture damage to the protective coating. Corrosion fatigue led to a crack, ultimately causing the spring to fail. This incident highlights a potential moisture-related failure in the landing gear components.During a normal landing, the pilot reported a loud bang, followed by a noticeable reduction in nose attitude. An inspection revealed a failed nose landing gear drag link spring, caused by moisture damage to the protective coating. Corrosion fatigue led to a crack, ultimately causing the spring to fail. This incident highlights a potential moisture-related failure in the landing gear components.
Description
The pilot reported that during the landing roll, following a normal landing, he heard a loud bang, after which the aircraft nose appeared to be lower than normal. He stopped the aircraft and shut it down to carry out an inspection. This identified that the nose landing gear drag link spring had failed. A detailed analysis of the failed part, carried out on behalf of the operator, indicated that the failure was most likely due to damage to the protective coating which had allowed the high-strength steel material to be exposed to moisture. A corrosion fatigue mechanism then led to the crack which resulted in the failure.
Primary Cause
Moisture damage to the protective coating of the nose landing gear drag link spring.Moisture damage to the protective coating of the nose landing gear drag link spring.Share on:
