Incident Overview

Date: Sunday 26 July 1998
Aircraft Type: Fairchild FH-227B
Owner/operator: Legion Express
Registration Number: N564LE
Location: Keflav¡k International Airport (KEF) – ÿ Iceland
Phase of Flight: Landing
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2
Component Affected: Landing gear lock strutLanding gear lock strut
Category: Accident
On final approach, a landing gear extension triggered a loud cracking noise. The crew aborted landing and visually inspected the landing gear, discovering a broken strut member hanging down on the right landing gear. Upon touchdown, the aircraft experienced a gentle right turn and sustained significant damage to the fuselage, wing tip, bottom of the fuselage, propeller, wing tip, and drag strut.On final approach, a landing gear extension triggered a loud cracking noise. The crew aborted landing and visually inspected the landing gear, discovering a broken strut member hanging down on the right landing gear. Upon touchdown, the aircraft experienced a gentle right turn and sustained significant damage to the fuselage, wing tip, bottom of the fuselage, propeller, wing tip, and drag strut.

Description

On final approach, when the landing gears were extended, the crew heard loud cracking noise. The landing was aborted and the aircraft passed the tower for visual inspection and one of the crew went to the cabin for visual check of the landing gears where he observed that the right landing gear lock strut rear member had broken loose from the side member assembly and was hanging down. Upon touchdown the gear folded up and the aircraft right propeller, wing tip and bottom of the fuselage touched ground and the aircraft went off the runway in a gentle right turn. The fuselage bottom skin and frame structure sustained extensive damage and the right wing tip, propeller blades, lock strut assembly and drag strut were destroyed. The aircraft operated on a ferry flight from Billund in Denmark to Opa-Locka, Florida, USA, with en route stops at among others Aberdeen and Keflav¡k. Preliminary investigation revealed that no lubricant was found in the lock strut hinge pin that should normally be packed with grease.

Primary Cause

Lack of lubrication in the lock strut hinge pin.Lack of lubrication in the lock strut hinge pin.

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