What happened
An ambulance flight operating from Lifou Airport to Nouméa-Magenta Airport experienced a significant mechanical failure during its arrival. The aircraft, a twin engine airplane, was transporting two crew members and two passengers at the time of the incident.
As the crew prepared for landing at Magenta Airport, they performed standard checklist procedures, which included the deployment of the landing gear. However, the cockpit instrumentation failed to provide the necessary confirmation, as all three green lights remained unlit. In an attempt to rectify the situation, the crew attempted to manually extend the gear, but this effort proved unsuccessful.
To assess the state of the aircraft, the crew performed two low-altitude passes in front of the control tower. Observations from the tower indicated that while the left main gear appeared to be in the down position, it was not properly locked. To manage the situation, the crew remained airborne for approximately 45 minutes to consume enough fuel to ensure a safer landing configuration.
Upon touchdown, the both main landing gear collapsed, while the nose gear stayed extended. The aircraft slid for several dozen meters along the runway before coming to a stop.
Findings
- The crew attempted manual gear extension after receiving no indication of deployment from the cockpit panel.
- The failure of the landing gear to lock in place was the primary factor leading to the collapse upon impact.