Description

On 22 June 2009, an Airbus A340-300 being operated by Finnair suffered a single tyre failure during take off on a scheduled passenger flight to Helsinki and malfunction assessed as consequential by the flight crew occurred to the hydraulic system. The flight proceeded to destination and carried out a daylight landing there without any further aircraft damage. Because of a further deterioration in the status of the aircraft hydraulic systems during the landing roll, the aircraft stopped on the runway and was towed into the gate. No persons were injured in this incident.

Investigation

An Investigation was carried out by Accident Investigation Board Finland. It found that the take off from Shanghai had been normal but that the Electronic Centralized Aircraft Monitor (ECAM) had subsequently indicated the caution ‘BRAKES HOT’ followed, about six minutes after take off, by a caution because of a leak in the green hydraulic system and about four hours after take off an annunciation of green hydraulic system fluid at minimum level. Examination of runway debris led to the conclusion that they were from the inner wheel of the left main landing gear and the flight crew were informed accordingly.

A review of hydraulic system status by the flight crew revealed that they would have to extend the landing gear by free fall, which meant that the centre body gear would not extend and no nosewheel steering would be available. Because of the assessed risk of landing gear damage, the aircraft commander decided that the cabin should be prepared for a possible emergency during landing.

The landing was uneventful but during braking, the blue hydraulic system began to leak through a fractured brake line coupling, emptying completely after the aircraft had stopped.