1st of November 2011, Gear Up, Blog #758
15 years ago today, a LOT Polish Airlines Boeing 767 captured worldwide attention when it performed a textbook gear-up landing at Warsaw Chopin Airport. What initially appeared to be a routine flight across the Atlantic would soon develop into one of the most remarkable emergency landings in modern airline history.
The flight was operated by a 14-year-old Boeing 767-35DER, registered SP-LPC. The aircraft carried serial number 28656 and was named Poznań.
Less than 30 minutes after takeoff, the crew received a Centre Hydraulic System Low Pressure warning. After completing the relevant checklists, the decision was made to continue the Atlantic crossing.
An uneventful flight followed as the aircraft continued towards its home base in Poland. Knowing that the centre hydraulic system had failed, the crew had ample time during the crossing to prepare for the landing in Warsaw, where they would need to use the alternate landing gear extension procedure described in the QRH.
The procedure itself was familiar to the crew, having been practised numerous times during regular simulator training sessions.
After the uneventful Atlantic crossing, and while on approach to Warsaw Chopin Airport, the crew used the alternate landing gear extension procedure as briefed during the flight. However, the landing gear did not extend.
After reviewing the procedure, they made a second attempt using the alternate gear extension system. When this attempt also failed, the approach was discontinued. ATC was informed, and the crew contacted the LOT Maintenance Control Centre (MCC).
The crew declared an emergency and was vectored into a holding pattern.
In consultation with the MCC, several troubleshooting actions were carried out, including checks and the cycling of relevant circuit breakers.
While the aircraft remained in the hold, two Polish Air Force fighter jets were dispatched to inspect it externally. The pilots confirmed what the crew already suspected: the landing gear remained retracted, although the tailskid had deployed.
After several unsuccessful attempts to lower the landing gear and with fuel reserves steadily decreasing, preparations were made for a gear-up landing. Only 1,600 kg of fuel remained on board.
In anticipation of the emergency landing, firefighters applied foam to approximately 3,000 metres of Runway 33.
At 13:39, the aircraft touched down and slid to a stop on the runway.
Sparks were observed coming from the left engine, but these were quickly suppressed by the foam covering the runway. After the aircraft came to a halt, an evacuation was carried out. Several passengers and crew members sustained minor injuries during the evacuation. An investigation was launched by the Polish State Commission on Aircraft Accidents Investigation. The The investigation identified the following causes:
Failure of the hydraulic hose connecting the hydraulic system on the right main landing gear leg to the centre hydraulic system, which initiated the occurrence.
An open C829 BAT BUS DISTR circuit breaker in the power supply circuit of the alternate landing gear extension system while the centre hydraulic system was inoperative.
The crew's failure to detect the open C829 circuit breaker after discovering that the landing gear could not be extended using the alternate system.
Several contributing factors were also identified.
After the aircraft had been lifted by cranes, the C829 circuit breaker was reset and the landing gear extended normally using the alternate gear extension procedure.
The aircraft had sustained extensive damage and was subsequently withdrawn from service before eventually being scrapped. The aircraft sustained extensive damage and was withdrawn from service and subsequently broken up. The full investigation report can be found by clicking on the link to .pdf file below
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