What happened
On November 1, 2011, a Boeing 767-300ER, registration SP-LPC, was operating a scheduled flight from Newark Liberty International Airport to Warsaw Chopin Airport. During the initial climb phase, specifically while the crew was retracting the flaps and landing gear, a leak occurred in the center hydraulic system. This leak caused a significant drop in hydraulic pressure, which was noted by the flight crew via the EICAS and hydraulic panels.
Following the established Quick Reference Handbook (QRH) procedures and consulting with the airline's Maintenance Control Center, the crew elected to proceed to Warsaw. The crew prepared for a landing using the alternate landing gear extension system, a procedure they had practiced extensively in simulators.
Upon approaching Warsaw, the crew attempted to deploy the landing gear using the alternate system. After the first attempt failed, a second attempt was also unsuccessful. The crew subsequently declared an emergency and entered a holding pattern. During this time, the crew consulted with experts and performed various checks, including resetting the alternate extension motor circuit breaker. Polish Air Force F-16 pilots provided visual confirmation that the gear remained retracted, though the tail skid had extended. A final attempt to extend the gear via gravity also failed. Due to declining fuel levels, the decision was made to perform an emergency gear-up landing.
At 13:39 hrs, the aircraft touched down on Runway 33. During the landing roll, the right engine began emitting sparks and subsequently caught fire, though the fire was suppressed by foam deployed by ground services. The aircraft came to a stop 42 meters past the intersection with Runway 29. There were 0 fatalities and 0 injuries among the passengers and crew during the evacuation.
Findings
- A leak in the center hydraulic system occurred during the retraction of the landing gear and flaps shortly after takeoff.
- The failure of the landing gear to extend via the alternate or gravity methods necessitated the emergency gear-up landing.
- The aircraft sustained substantial damage during the landing and was withdrawn from service.