A Fokker 50 was operating a domestic flight in Italy, between Rimini and Catania. Onboard a crew of 3 and 18 passengers. After an uneventful take-off and subsequent flight, the aircraft had descended towards Catania. ATC cleared the aircraft for the ILS Z approach to runway 08.
The aircraft just after evacuation (Source and © ANSV report)
While configuring the aircraft for landing, while on the final approach, the landing gear was selected down. Both main gears locked down. however, the nose landing gear did not lock in the down position. ATC was informed and a low pass was flown, followed by a missed approach as per Approach Procedure. ATC confirmed the nose landing gear was not down, although the gear doors were open.
After the missed approach the aircraft entered a hold at 3000 feet to carry out troubleshooting and carry out the necessary abnormal checklists. All efforts did not lead to the nose landing gear coming down. The crew declared an emergency to ATC and informed them that they would attempt a level 2G turn, in a last-ditch effort to get the nose landing gear to The Damaged fuselage extend. This manoeuvre did not lead to (Source and © ANSV report) the extension of the nose landing gear.
ATC was informed of the situation, and the crew requested another low pass, over runway 26. The nose landing gear was still not extended. After this second low pass, the aircraft was instructed to fly an ILS approach to runway 08.
At 09.34 local time the aircraft landed on runway 08 and the crew "flew the tail" and kept the nose of the runway as long as elevator authority allowed it. The nose landing gear doors and the nose section of the aircraft received substantial damage while the aircraft to a stop. 4 passengers received minor injuries during the evacuation of the aircraft, the rest of the passengers and the crew did not sustain any injury. The nose gear jammed in the bay
(source ANSV report)
Drawing of the nose landing gear assembly, with the correct installation (R) and incorrect installation (L) (source; ANSV report)
The accident was investigated by the ANSV (Agenzia Nazionale per la Sicurezza del Volo), their report that concluded that the accident was caused by;
"The failure of the nose landing gear (nose gear up) due to over-extension of the shock absorber which caused interference between the tires and the NLG compartment and locked the NLG in a retracted position.
The over-extension was caused by the incorrect installation of some Internal components of the shock absorber during the replacement of the internal seals the day before the accident."
The ANSV report is available by clicking here.
Video of the landing (source youtube.com)
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