What happened
On a flight from St. Theresa Point, Manitoba, to Winnipeg, a Swearingle SA226-TC Metro II, registration C-FSLZ, was performing its final approach to Winnipeg/James Armstrong Richardson International Airport. The aircraft, operated by Perimeter Aviation Limited as PAG Flight 640, was carrying two crew members and eight passengers. During the approach, the crew attempted to extend the landing gear, but the right main gear failed to lock into position, remaining in-transit.
After a missed approach and an attempt to use emergency extension methods, the crew determined the gear could not be deployed. They declared an emergency and prepared for a gear-up landing on Runway 18. Prior to touchdown, the crew shut down both engines and feathered the propellers. The aircraft landed on its belly along the runway centerline. Despite substantial damage to the propellers, flaps, and the aft belly of the aircraft, there were no injuries among the ten people on board.
The investigation
Investigators examined the aircraft's landing gear mechanism and found that the right main gear was obstructed. Specifically, the number three tire was caught on a ledge on the inboard gear door skin, preventing full extension. The investigation focused on the maintenance history of the gear doors and the dimensions of the tires used.
It was determined that the right inboard landing gear door had been rigged too tightly following maintenance work performed in September 2008. There was no documented evidence that a required rigging check had been performed after that work. Furthermore, the investigation looked into the dimensions of the recently replaced re-capped tire, which had grown in diameter during its first 73 cycles of service to a size that exceeded the dimensions of the previous tire.