What happened
On December 7, 2022, at approximately 17:30 local time, a BAE 146-200 was parked at parking stand number 3 of the Diego Aracena Airport (SCDA) in Iquique, Chile. The aircraft, operated by a commercial airline, was preparing for a scheduled flight to Santiago (SCEL) with 69 passengers and a crew of two on board.
Prior to the commencement of aircraft towing, the flight crew and a maintenance technician were performing ground maintenance tasks. These procedures were intended to address a technical discrepancy regarding the emergency extension of the landing gear. During these maneuvers, the nose landing gear leg suffered a slow collapse, causing it to retract into the nose gear bay. The sudden shift in the aircraft's position caused the nose to tilt forward, leading to contact between the aircraft and the ground.
The investigation
DGAC Chile investigators examined the aircraft and the surrounding environment at the parking stand. The inspection revealed that the aircraft was found tilted forward with the nose gear partially retracted. The investigation focused on the physical damage to the airframe and the state of the landing gear components.
Investigators noted that a towing bar, which was connected to the nose gear, was found twisted toward the left. Physical evidence of the impact included a 15-centimeter drag mark on the airport apron surface. The inspection of the aircraft's structure identified deformation and wear on the forward ventral fuselage panels, the nose gear bay doors, and various antennas. Additionally, the torsion link of the nose gear showed wear at the grease fitting due to contact with the pavement.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the unintended retraction of the nose landing gear during maintenance procedures aimed at troubleshooting the emergency gear extension system.
- The collapse resulted in structural damage to the BAE 146-200, specifically involving the deformation of the nose gear bay doors, the forward fuselage skin, and the nose gear torsion link.
- There were no injuries among the 69 passengers or the 5 crew members and maintenance personnel present.
- The aircraft had recently completed a heavy maintenance check (Check C) on December 6, 2022, and was documented as being in an airworthy condition prior to the event.