A terrible disaster was averted today when a Boeing 737
carrying 10 tonnes of freight from Charles de Gaulle Airport into UK had its
landing gear broke off as the plane touched down causing it to slide 115m along
the tarmac.
The plane,
which had two crew and no passengers on board, eventually came to a stop after
sliding down the tarmac.
Fortunately
no-one was hurt in the accident, which was detailed today by the Air Accidents
Investigations Board.
A report
from the authorities states, "During the landing at East Midlands
Airport, as the aircraft's speed reduced, the co-pilot handed control to the
commander who then made a brake pedal application to disengage the automatic
brake system.
The aircraft
was said to have shuddered and rolled slightly as the lower part of the main
landing gear detached. The inner
cylinder of the main landing gear had fractured, allowing the main left wheels
and brakes to detach. The landing gear
fell off because of a fracture caused by "intense, localised heating"
of chrome plating. The gear was found to
have been within "acceptable tolerances," before it came off.’’
The report
concludes that the "landing gear overhaul company has carried out a
comprehensive review of their processes as a precaution.
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