Incident Overview
On 13 May 2024, a Beechcraft King Air B200, registered VH-XDV and operated by Eastern Air Services, departed Williamtown Airport for a passenger transport flight to Lord Howe Island, New South Wales, with a pilot and two passengers. Shortly after departure, the landing gear malfunctioned and became jammed in a partially retracted position. The pilot was unable to extend the gear using published emergency procedures. After approximately four hours of holding, the pilot performed a wheels-up landing at Williamtown Airport with emergency services on standby. The aircraft sustained minor damage, and the pilot and passengers were uninjured.
ATSB Investigation
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) determined that during the take-off roll or landing gear retraction sequence, the steering link fractured due to a pre-existing fatigue crack. This caused a mechanical disconnect within the nose landing gear steering system. As the gear retracted, the fractured steering link allowed the nose gear shimmy damper to contact the side of the wheel well, jamming the nose landing gear in a partially retracted position. This jam prevented extension using the emergency procedure. A review of the ATSB database and manufacturer records found no similar previous occurrences.
Operator Actions
In the days following the incident, Eastern Air Services inspected the landing gear system on its other King Air B200 (VH-MVP) and found no defects. During a scheduled maintenance check on 28 August 2024, the nose gear steering link was removed for dye-penetrant crack inspection, also revealing no defects. The operator is reviewing its B200 maintenance program to consider adding non-destructive inspection of the steering link beyond manufacturer requirements.
Pilot Actions
The pilot assessed that fuel endurance allowed time to troubleshoot the issue. They contacted company personnel for system troubleshooting and requested air traffic control to inspect the aircraft. The pilot also coordinated with emergency services and prepared the passengers for the wheels-up landing, minimizing risk and ensuring safe evacuation.