A Fokker F.27 mk.50 (Fokker 50) was operating a scheduled passenger flight from Khartoum-Civil Airport, Sudan to Malakal Airport, South Sudan on this day in aviation history in 2011.
The aircraft sliding down the runway in Khartoum (Source; www.kathrynsreport.com © Unknown)
After an uneventful flight, while the aircraft was on the approach to Malakal the landing gear was selected down as the aircraft was configured for landing. The nose landing gear and right-hand main landing gear extended and locked down, the left-hand main landing gear failed to deploy due to a technical problem. The approach to Malakal was aborted and the crew decided to return to Khartoum. (a ~421 miles / ~674 kilometres flight back to the departure airport). The aircraft was cleared for an approach to runway 18 at Khartoum-Haj Yusuf Airport. While on the approach the crew used the manual gear extension in an attempt to lower all three landing gears. Again only the nose landing gear and the right-hand main landing gear extended. With no options left the crew decided to land the aircraft in that configuration.
Firefighters applying foam to the aircraft (Source; www.kathrynsreport.com © Unknown) Shortly after touchdown, the left wing contacted the runway as the aircraft slid down the runway. After sliding down the runway for ~1350 metres the aircraft veered to the left before coming to a stop. All 45 occupants evacuated the aircraft, there were no injuries reported, Airport Fire and Rescue Services covered the aircraft with foam to prevent a fire.
Damage to the aircraft was so extensive that the airframe was written off as damaged beyond repair.
Enough foam was applied to prevent a fire. (Source; www.kathrynsreport.com © Unknown)
** Editorial note **
V2 Aviation - Training & Maintenance has not been able to obtain an investigation report on this accident. Additionally, we have not been able to find details on the probable cause for the landing gear failing to extend. This blog is therefore based on several internet sources. Should there be an inconsistency in the blog or do you have additional information, don't hesitate to get in touch with us. There are two possibilities to do that, via the comments function at the bottom of this page or via the contact page of the website.