History of Flight
On June 6, 2011, at about 2132 central daylight time, a Bombardier CL-600-2B19 (registration N866AS) operating as SkyWest Airlines Flight 4443 landed with the right main landing gear retracted on runway 19R at General Mitchell International Airport (MKE), Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The flight was a scheduled domestic passenger flight under 14 CFR Part 121, departing from Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) at about 1951. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an activated instrument flight rules flight plan was on file. All 44 occupants—2 pilots, 1 flight attendant, and 41 passengers—reported no injuries. The airplane was evacuated via the main cabin door.
Flight Crew Actions
During the approach, the flight crew reported calm wind and visual conditions. On final approach, the landing gear did not extend normally. The crew informed the tower of a go-around and flew east over Lake Michigan to complete the quick reference handbook (QRH). They noted that the gear had operated normally on previous flights.
When the landing gear selector lever was first placed down, the right main gear did not indicate down and locked. A triple chime warning and gear disagree message followed, prompting a go-around. Across several attempts, indications varied: initially, nose and left main showed green, right main showed red unsafe; later, both main gears showed unsafe. The crew also received a nose gear door open warning and a No. 3 hydraulic system high temperature caution. Approximately 28 seconds elapsed from selector down to the gear disagree message.
Manual Landing Gear Extension Attempt
The crew followed QRH procedures for "Gear Down Disagree." They turned off the No. 3 hydraulic system as directed, and its pressure dropped to zero. They pulled the landing gear alternate release T-handle, but it slipped back a few inches from full extension after each pull. The first officer, seated low, pulled the handle multiple times, holding for 5–10 seconds each time, hearing only oil bypassing. The captain also pulled the handle twice, holding for ten seconds. Neither crewmember left their seat. The gear did not extend.
Final Approach and Landing
During one low approach, the tower confirmed nose and left main gear were down; right main remained up. On the final approach, left main indicated green safe, right main remained unsafe. The airplane touched down with the right main gear retracted, sustaining minor damage to the right wing tip, right flap assemblies, and right flap pylon assemblies. The right main landing gear door was up, and the gear was in its wheel well.
Aircraft and Crew Information
The aircraft, a Bombardier CRJ200 (serial number 7517, built June 15, 2001), had 24,969.4 flight hours and 20,132 cycles at the time of the incident. It was equipped with a retractable tricycle landing gear system operated by the No. 3 hydraulic system. The captain held an ATP certificate with 8,618 hours total (438 on type); the first officer held a commercial certificate with 5,156 hours total (2,997 on type). Both held first-class medical certificates without limitations.