Accident Overview
On flight UP353 from Nassau to Governor's Harbour, the crew began a routine descent after an uneventful flight. Upon landing on runway 15, the left main landing gear collapsed. The aircraft slid for several dozen meters, veered slightly left, and came to rest on the main runway. All 51 occupants evacuated safely, though a few passengers sustained minor injuries. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Sequence of Events
The flight from Nassau proceeded without incident until the descent. After touchdown on runway 15, the left main gear failed, causing the aircraft to slide. It turned left before stopping on the runway. The evacuation was completed without further issues.
Probable Cause
The official probable cause was an over-center torque link condition that led to a single cycle failure of the cylinder. This condition occurred due to over extension of the shock strut. Potential contributory factors to the over extension included: failure to install a dampening ring during landing gear assembly; improper servicing of the shock strut with Mil-H-5606 hydraulic fluid and nitrogen during initial assembly; improper line maintenance servicing and inadequate post-servicing follow-up per AMM Chapter 12; an under-serviced shock strut (low oil volume); a broken damper ring; no damper ring; or a disengaged damper ring. The investigation referenced Appendix A-30 from Bombardier.
Damage and Injuries
The aircraft sustained damage beyond repair. All 51 occupants evacuated, with a few passengers reporting minor injuries. No fatalities were mentioned in the report.