A320, Perth Australia, 2018

A320, Perth Australia, 2018

Summary

On 14 August 2018, an Airbus A320 departed Perth without full removal of its main landing gear ground locks and the unsecured components fell unseen from the aircraft during taxi and takeoff, only being recovered after runway FOD reports. The Investigation identified multiple contributory factors including an inadequately-overseen recent transfer of despatch responsibilities, the absence of adequate ground lock use procedures, the absence of required metal lanyards linking the locking components not attached directly to each gear leg flag (as also found on other company aircraft) and pilot failure to confirm that all components were in the flight deck stowage.

Description

On 14 August 2018, an Airbus A320 (VH-FNP) being operated by Virgin Australia Regional Airlines on a scheduled passenger flight from Perth to Christmas Island with an augmented crew due to the length of the flight duty period began its departure from Perth in day VMC with the main landing gear ground locking pin sleeves still installed after removal of the their locking pins. One sleeve then fell out, unseen, during pushback and the other fell out, again unseen, during takeoff. Reports of FOD on the runway eventually led to the location of one sleeve and the other was subsequently recovered from the apron. The intended flight was completed without further event and the aircraft was subsequently found to be undamaged.

Investigation

An Investigation was carried out by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB).

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