What happened
On July 22, 2015, a SZD-54-2 PERKOZ glider, registration SP-3796, operated by BB-Aero, completed a thermal flight and landed successfully at the Rybnik Gotartowice (EPRACY) aerodrome. Following the landing, the crew noticed that the aircraft was sitting unusually low on the grass runway. Upon closer inspection, it was discovered that the main landing gear wheel had retracted deeper into the fairing than its normal position.
To facilitate a detailed examination, the glider was moved to a hangar and the landing gear assembly was disassembled. The relevant CAMO organization and the aircraft manufacturer were notified of the incident.
The investigation
The PKBWL investigation focused on determining why the landing gear had shifted position during or after the flight. The investigation team examined the disassembled components and reviewed the aircraft's operational history. The records showed that the aircraft had completed 198 flights, indicating that the landing gear assembly was not excessively worn. Furthermore, the inspection revealed no evidence of dynamic impact or external damage that could have forced the gear into the fairing.
Findings
- The investigation determined that there were no signs of structural damage resulting from heavy landings or external impacts.
- The most probable cause of the incident was a hidden material defect within the components used to manufacture the landing gear assembly.