Accident Summary
A scheduled domestic passenger flight operating under Part 121 experienced a landing gear extension failure while approaching Chicago-Midway Airport. The crew executed a missed approach and attempted to extend the landing gear manually using procedures from the cockpit checklist and flight operations manual. These attempts were unsuccessful. The flight subsequently performed an emergency gear-up landing at Chicago-O'Hare International Airport. No further details on injuries or damage were reported.
Investigation Findings
Examination of the aircraft after the incident revealed that the landing gear selector actuating rod was disconnected from the normal retract/extension actuating assembly. Additionally, the crew's efforts to manually extend the gear caused damage to the manual gear extension mechanism. The investigation also found that the FAA-approved procedural checklist used by the flight crew omitted a critical step in the manual gear extension procedure.
Probable Cause
The official probable cause was determined to be an improper procedural checklist in which a critical step was not listed.
The investigation identified the following findings:
- Landing gear normal retraction/extension assembly was inoperative.
- The missed approach was performed as required.
- The checklist used was inaccurate, attributed to company/operator management.
- Procedures/directives were improper, attributed to company/operator management.
- A condition or step was not listed, attributed to the FAA principal maintenance inspector.
- The pilot in command performed a wheels-up landing as a result.