Description

On 28 July 2008, the crew flying an Airbus A321-200 departing Manchester UK were unable to raise the landing gear. The fault was caused by damage to the Nose Landing Gear sustained on the previous flight which experienced a heavy landing.

Synopsis

The following is taken from the UK AAIB official report:

"The aircraft made a hard landing, in a flat attitude, in which the nose landing gear sustained internal damage. An engineer, following the process in the Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM), determined that no inspections were required as the relevant recorded parameters had not exceeded the stated threshold values. On the next flight, the flight crew were unable to retract the landing gear. Subsequent investigation of this defect identified internal damage to the nose landing gear and a bent proximity switch link rod. The nose landing gear was replaced and extensive inspections conducted before the aircraft was released to service."

The Report looked at the circumstances surrounding the hard landing:

"The landing flare was initiated slightly early and the aircraft settled into a ‘float’ at approximately 10 ft above the runway (radio height). Whilst in the ‘float’, the co pilot’s sidestick briefly moved to fully forward then to fully aft. The aircraft reacted with a rapid nose down pitch and touched down in a near flat attitude. A significant bounce occurred, which was controlled by the co-pilot; a second touchdown and rollout ensued.

Three passenger service unit oxygen masks had dropped from their stowages but no other effects of the landing were apparent and no injuries had occurred.