Incident Overview
On December 7, 2022, at approximately 16:30 local time, a British Aerospace BAE 146-200 aircraft was parked at Stand No. 3 of the Diego Aracena Airport (SCDA) in Iquique, Chile. The aircraft was prepared for a commercial flight to Arturo Merino Benítez Airport (SCEL). At the time of the event, the aircraft carried two crew members and 69 passengers.
Sequence of Events
Prior to initiating the pushback procedure, the flight crew and a maintenance mechanic were conducting checks to resolve a discrepancy related to the emergency extension of the landing gear. During these maneuvers, the nose landing gear leg slowly collapsed and retracted into its bay. The aircraft was found tilted forward with the nose gear partially retracted.
Damage Assessment
The incident resulted in no fatalities or injuries among the 74 occupants. All passengers and crew evacuated safely via the rear fuselage door without the use of emergency slides. The aircraft sustained damage to the front ventral fuselage panels, skin, and structure. Additionally, the nose gear components, including its doors, were damaged. A 15-centimeter drag mark was observed on the apron surface at Stand No. 3.
Aircraft and Crew Details
The aircraft, manufactured in 1987 with serial number E2094, had accumulated over 40,354 flight hours. It had completed a Check C inspection on December 6, 2022. The Captain, aged 64, held an Airline Transport Pilot license with approximately 19,285 total flight hours. The First Officer, aged 26, held a Commercial Pilot license with approximately 2,237 total flight hours. Both pilots were Chilean nationals.