What happened
During a cargo operation departing from Málaga Airport, the flight crew experienced mechanical issues shortly after liftoff. Due to these complications, air traffic control authorized the aircraft to perform an emergency return to the airfield. During the final approach, controllers notified the pilot that the left main landing gear had failed to extend.
Upon reaching the runway, the aircraft type (not specified) touched down with the gear malfunction. Following the landing, the plane drifted toward the left side of the runway and eventually stopped in a nearby grassy field. Although there were zero fatalities among the seven crew members, all personnel escaped without injury. The aircraft sustained damage that rendered it a total loss.
Findings
Investigation into the incident revealed that a mechanical failure within the hydraulic system prevented the gear from locking. Specifically, an attachment point for the recovery spring cable on the lower leg broke while the landing gear was being retracted. This caused the spring to become lodged between the hydraulic cylinder and adjacent linkages. The resulting displacement of the piston led to a loss of hydraulic fluid, which ultimately compromised the deployment of the left main gear.