What happened
During the final approach to Santa Elena Airfield in Entre Ríos, the flight crew experienced a sudden, loud noise originating from the undercarriage area. In response to this event, the pilots executed a go-around maneuver. During the subsequent climb, the crew attempted to retract the landing gear, but the mechanism failed to respond to the command.
As the aircraft climbed, the crew observed a significant drop in hydraulic pressure. This loss of pressure caused the flaps to become stuck at an improper setting. Due to the deteriorating mechanical state of the aircraft, the decision was made to divert the flight to Paraná Airport. Upon arrival at the diversion site, the landing gear collapsed during the landing sequence. The aircraft sustained a belly slide across the runway before coming to a halt. While the aircraft was declared a total loss due to extensive damage, both pilots were able to evacuate the wreckage without injury.
Findings
- An initial mechanical failure in the undercarriage produced a loud impact noise.
- A subsequent loss of hydraulic pressure prevented the successful retraction of the landing gear and caused the flaps to remain in a fixed, incorrect position.