What happened
On August 26, 2018, a Bombardier DHC-8-402 departed from Wrocław (EPWR) bound for Warsaw (EPWA). Shortly after takeoff, at approximately 04:09 UTC, the flight crew notified the Maintenance Control Center (MCC) of a landing gear failure and declared an emergency state.
Upon moving the landing gear lever to the UP position, the crew observed simultaneous warning lights: an amber NDOOR light and a red NOSE light. The aircraft continued its climb to flight level 150 while maintaining a speed of 185 knots. Following a fuel analysis, the crew decided to proceed to the destination airport. After informing the passengers and crew and preparing the cabin for an emergency landing, the crew initiated the alternate landing gear extension procedure. The landing gear was successfully extended and locked, and the aircraft landed at the destination without further incident.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the mechanical state of the nose landing gear (NLG) and the cockpit warning indications. The investigation established that the landing gear could not be retracted due to a specific mechanical obstruction.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was that the nose landing gear (NLG) locking mechanism was left in the ENGAGED position prior to takeoff, which prevented the gear from retracting.
- The operator's technical services at Warsaw (EPWA) confirmed that the nose landing gear lock was active during their inspection.