Incident Overview

Date: Sunday 29 March 1981
Aircraft Type: Potez 840
Owner/operator: Club A‚ronautique de Paris
Registration Number: F-BMCY
Location: Sumburgh Airport, Shetland Islands (LSI) – ÿ United Kingdom
Phase of Flight: Landing
Status: Minor, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 7
Component Affected: Landing Gear LegsLanding Gear Legs
Category: Accident
An aircraft experienced a diversion due to adverse weather conditions, resulting in a gear-up landing. The pilot attempted to lower the landing gear but failed, leading to an overshot flight and circling. Utilizing the emergency manual, the pilot successfully locked the right-hand leg, but subsequent attempts to lower the remaining gear legs were unsuccessful. The aircraft was abandoned, and after being recovered, it was preserved in a private garden in North Roe, Shetland, for 26 years before being moved to a stand. The remaining engines were removed, and the aircraft was saved.An aircraft experienced a diversion due to adverse weather conditions, resulting in a gear-up landing. The pilot attempted to lower the landing gear but failed, leading to an overshot flight and circling. Utilizing the emergency manual, the pilot successfully locked the right-hand leg, but subsequent attempts to lower the remaining gear legs were unsuccessful. The aircraft was abandoned, and after being recovered, it was preserved in a private garden in North Roe, Shetland, for 26 years before being moved to a stand. The remaining engines were removed, and the aircraft was saved.

Description

Because of bad weather the aircraft diverted to Sumburgh. On approach the pilot tried to lower the landing gear but all three gear legs remained up. The aircraft overshot and circled while the pilot used the emergency manual system, but only the right-hand leg extended and locked. Further attempts to lower all gear legs were without success and the pilot made a gear-up landing. The main cabin door could not be opened but the occupants evacuated the aircraft via the overwing emergency exit. Damage was minimal and once lifted onto its undercarriage, the aircraft was moved to a stand. It remained there for some months until a French team arrived to remove the four Astazou engines and other useful parts. What was left was abandoned in a quiet part of the airport. It remained there for 26 years until the runway was extended, but instead of being scrapped it was saved and now resides in a private garden in North Roe in the north of Shetland.

Source of Information

http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?85202-Very-rare-pictures-of-Sumburgh-s-Potez-840http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?85202-Very-rare-pictures-of-Sumburgh-s-Potez-840

Primary Cause

Bad weather conditions caused a diversion and a gear-up landing.Bad weather conditions caused a diversion and a gear-up landing.

Share on:

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *