What happened
On August 11, 2018, a Bombardier DHC-8-402 was operating a scheduled flight from Prague (LKPR) to Warsaw (EPWA). Shortly after takeoff, at an altitude of approximately 1,240 feet, the flight crew observed orange and then red warning indications signaling that the left main landing gear was not properly positioned.
In response to the warnings, the crew performed the necessary checklists and successfully deployed the landing gear using the alternative extension method. Following the technical issue, the crew decided to abort the flight to Warsaw and returned to Prague. The aircraft landed at LKPR without further incident.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the mechanical failure that triggered the landing gear warning lights. The inquiry established that the crew followed standard operating procedures, including the use of the emergency gear extension and the filing of an Air Safety Report (ASR).
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was a damaged left gear uplock spring.
Safety action
The operator's maintenance services restored the aircraft to airworthy status. The event was recorded in the operator's Safety Management System (SMS) database and included in the airline's Safety Performance Indicators (SPI).