B744, vicinity Harare Zimbabwe, 2019

B744, vicinity Harare Zimbabwe, 2019

Summary

On 8 July 2019, a loud bang was heard following intermediate flap selection on a Boeing 747-400F making an approach to Harare and a concurrent uncommanded right roll was countered with left aileron. The flight was completed without further event but a post-flight inspection found part of the inboard section of the right wing flap assembly was missing and the right fuselage impact-damaged in several places. The missing flap section measuring 3.7 metres by 0.6 metres was recovered with detachment attributed to undetected fatigue cracking already present at component installation. A long history of problems with 747 flaps was noted.

Description

On 8 July 2019, a Boeing747F (PH-CKA) being operated by Martinair, a wholly-owned subsidiary of KLM, on an international cargo flight from Johannesburg to Harare, lost a significant part of the foreflap section of the inboard triple slotted trailing edge flap assembly on its right wing during its approach to runway 05 at destination in day VMC. The missing structure was found approximately 5nm from the landing runway threshold in a densely populated urban area and recovered with no resulting personal injury or damage to structures reported. Secondary consequences of the detachment for the aircraft structure included damage to the adjacent mid flap assembly rendering it beyond economic repair and impact damage to both the right hand aft wing and body fairing and to the right aft fuselage.    

B744 vicinity Harare 2019 missing flap section

The extent of the missing inboard flap section as discovered on arrival at Harare. [Reproduced from the Official Report]

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