Left Main Landing Gear Collapse During Crosswind Landing at Ilulissat (OY-GRI)

Accident Sequence

On landing on runway 07 at Ilulissat Airport (BGJN), the left main landing gear collapsed under gusting crosswind conditions that exceeded the aircraft's and the operator's maximum crosswind components. The aircraft skidded off the left side of the runway in a nose-right attitude, traversed the safety zone, and continued down a steep snow-covered slope. It came to rest after impacting a rocky area approximately 10 meters below the runway elevation.

Injuries and Damage

One passenger and one crew member sustained minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed in the accident. The occurrence took place during dark night under visual meteorological conditions (VMC).

Probable Cause

The official investigation identified the following contributing factors:

• Non-optimum crew resource management (CRM) on final approach to runway 07, leading to flight crew target fixation and mental blocking of an appropriate go-around decision.
• A non-stabilized approach in crosswind conditions exceeding aircraft and operator crosswind limitations, combined with the actual crosswind landing technique and power levers retarded below flight idle in flight, resulting in an accelerated rate of descent and a hard landing with side load on the left main landing gear at touchdown.
• Shear of the left main landing gear structural fuse pin due to lateral and vertical overload stress.
• Cycling of power levers between ground and flight range, which prevented appropriate deceleration and prolonged the landing roll.
• The combination of full left rudder application and no decisive use of reverse thrust on the side with the unaffected main landing gear, making directional control impossible.