About 10-12 years ago there were three collapsed landing gears on DHC-8 aircraft over a period of a few months. We were flying two DHC-8s where I work so we took interest, we even jacked the airplanes up and did gear swings as a precaution. It turned out that all three aircraft had been fitted with hydraulic solenoid valves overhauled by one company in Scandinavia. Inside the valve there is a -128 O ring (if memory serves). The technician rebuilding the valve was taking new O rings from the correct bin but the O rings in that bin were -129s. Since a -129 O ring is a larger diameter than a -128 when the O ring passed the port it would bulge into the port which eventually snipped off a chunk of rubber which then moved into the tiny passage of the valve locking the valve in place. No hydraulic fluid could flow through the valve into or out of the main landing gear retract actuator so the gear was hydraulically locked in whatever position it was in when valve failure occurred. There were no fatalities and (if memory serves) no serious injuries. I believe all three aircraft were repaired and returned to flying.
Hey, as the ole sayin' goes, any landing you can walk away frm is a good landing.
ReplyDeleteAnd if you can reuse the airplane, it is a GREAT landing!
DeleteI was just thinking that too! From the photo it might be rebuildable. Lucky, lucky people. Anyone know the backstory?
DeleteAbout 10-12 years ago there were three collapsed landing gears on DHC-8 aircraft over a period of a few months. We were flying two DHC-8s where I work so we took interest, we even jacked the airplanes up and did gear swings as a precaution. It turned out that all three aircraft had been fitted with hydraulic solenoid valves overhauled by one company in Scandinavia. Inside the valve there is a -128 O ring (if memory serves). The technician rebuilding the valve was taking new O rings from the correct bin but the O rings in that bin were -129s. Since a -129 O ring is a larger diameter than a -128 when the O ring passed the port it would bulge into the port which eventually snipped off a chunk of rubber which then moved into the tiny passage of the valve locking the valve in place. No hydraulic fluid could flow through the valve into or out of the main landing gear retract actuator so the gear was hydraulically locked in whatever position it was in when valve failure occurred.
DeleteThere were no fatalities and (if memory serves) no serious injuries. I believe all three aircraft were repaired and returned to flying.
Al_in_Ottawa
This looks like the ran off the runway somehow. It's an Icelandic airline:
Deletehttps://worldairlinenews.com/tag/flugfelag-islands-2/
That happened to a Navy plane or two while I was there in the early 1970s.
Mike
[rocketride]
ReplyDeleteI've had #2, #6, and #8 happen.
Is that Rose Cohen's bag (earlier story) in #5?
ReplyDeleteI have had #6 happen.
ReplyDelete#10 says something along the lines of "good luck on the roads"
ReplyDeletewojtek
The best answer to #6 is Estwing!
ReplyDeleteOh, most definitely. Estwing is the only way.
DeleteNever expected to see someone I know in one of these (#9).
ReplyDeleteFor real?
DeleteYep, use to work with him, he retired a few years ago.
Delete#1 Damnit, now we have to start eating rugby players again.
ReplyDelete