What happened
On April 13, 2004, an L 200A aircraft, registration OK-PLG, was performing aerial monitoring flights over Prague to assess urban traffic conditions. During the first leg of the mission, the aircraft landed on runway 06 at Prague-Kbely Airport (LKKB) at 0650 UTC. The landing was hard and resulted in a directional deviation (crab angle) due to a lateral gust of wind accompanied by low-level turbulence.
Following this initial landing, the aircraft took off again at 0903 UTC for a subsequent flight. During this second flight, the pilot was unable to secure the left main landing gear in the retracted position despite repeated attempts. Upon returning to LKKB, an aircraft technician inspected the gear and discovered mechanical damage to the left main landing gear strut and its attachment bracket. The damage had caused a displacement of the gear's pivot axis, preventing the attachment eye from engaging with the up-lock mechanism. The aircraft was grounded pending repairs.
The investigation
The ÚZPLN investigation established that the pilot held valid qualifications for the flight and the aircraft possessed a valid certificate of airworthiness. The investigation focused on the mechanical failure of the landing gear assembly following the initial landing sequence.
Findings
- The pilot's response to a wind gust during the final phase of the first landing was delayed.
- The resulting hard landing and subsequent directional deviation caused the destruction of the left main landing gear attachment bracket.