Piper PA31-310 Navajo ZK-NPR, landing gear failure to extend, Napier Aerodrome, 24 June 2002
Status
Closed
Occurrence Date
Report Publication Date
Jurisdiction
NZ
Legacy Inquiry Number
02-008
On Monday 24 June 2002, at about 0730, Air Napier PA31-310 Navajo ZK-NPR was on a freight flight from Palmerston North when the pilot had to make an emergency landing at Napier because the right undercarriage was unable to be extended. The landing was successful, with moderate damage to the aircraft and no injury to the pilot.
The right undercarriage had failed to extend because the uplock hook could not release the undercarriage leg. This resulted from a flat oleo strut becoming compressed, and was a previously unknown design deficiency.
A safety issue identified was the need for wide publicity, including foreign countries operating the PA31 type, about this deficiency.
The right undercarriage had failed to extend because the uplock hook could not release the undercarriage leg. This resulted from a flat oleo strut becoming compressed, and was a previously unknown design deficiency.
A safety issue identified was the need for wide publicity, including foreign countries operating the PA31 type, about this deficiency.
Location
Napier (-39.464559,176.861944) [may be approximate]