What happened
On September 29, 2013, an Airbus A320-216, registration EI-EIB, was performing flight AZ063 from Madrid to Rome Fiumicino with 151 passengers and 6 crew members on board. During the approach to runway 16L, the crew selected the landing gear to the "down" position, which triggered a master warning and an ECAM message indicating "L/G GEAR NOT DOWNLOCKED."
The crew initiated a missed approach and proceeded to the Campagnano VOR to perform the required Quick Reference Handbook (QRH) checklists. Despite attempting the "L/G GEAR NOT DOWNLOCKED" procedure, the issue persisted. The crew then performed the "L/G GRAVITY EXTENSION" procedure; however, while the nose and left main landing gear were successfully locked, the right main landing gear remained unextended. After a low pass to visually confirm the gear status with an aircraft taxiing on the ground, the crew prepared for a landing with abnormal gear.
Upon touchdown on runway 16L, the aircraft began to decelerate but suddenly veered to the right. The aircraft exited the runway, coming to a stop approximately 10 meters from the lateral edge. The crew ordered an emergency evacuation, and all 157 persons on board evacuated via the slides without injury.
The investigation
The ANSV investigation examined the mechanical failure of the landing gear and the subsequent runway excursion. Investigators analyzed the aircraft's flight data and cockpit voice recordings, as well as the physical wreckage. The investigation focused on the failure of the right main landing gear to downlock and the damage sustained during the excursion, which included contact between the aircraft's components and the runway surface.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the inability to downlock the right main landing gear.
- The investigation identified damage to the damping elements of the landing gear door actuators as a critical factor. These damaged components caused the doors to operate slowly or become blocked in various configurations.
- The runway excursion was characterized by a landing roll that resulted in the aircraft veering off the side of the runway.
- The aircraft sustained extensive damage, including damage to the right engine and its pylon, the right wingtip (winglet), the rear fuselage, and the left main landing gear door and tires. The right engine's longitudinal axis was displaced due to the impact.
- The aircraft's right engine made contact with the ground prior to the final runway excursion.