Dornier DO-228-202 N245RP

Summary

On 10 January 1993 at about 18:25 local time, a Dornier DO-228-202 registered N245RP, operated by Precision Airlines, was involved in an accident near Manchester, New Hampshire, United States. 5 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

10 January 1993 at 18:25

Classification

Accident

Location

Manchester, New Hampshire, United States

Nearest airport

Manchester (MHT)

Coordinates

Not recorded

Aircraft

Dornier DO-228-202

Registration

N245RP

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Precision Airlines

Operating rule

Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Boston → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

BFO93LA020

Nobody was injured.

INCORRECT INSTALLATION OF THE SEALS IN THE NOSE GEAR ASSEMBLY, WHICH PREVENTED THE NOSE GEAR FROM LOCKING IN THE DOWN POSITION.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHEN THE GEAR WAS RETRACTED, THERE WAS AN UNSAFE GEAR WARNING. AFTER SEVERAL UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS TO CORRECT THE CONDITION, INCLUDING RECYCLING THE GEAR FOUR TIMES, THE FLIGHT DIVERTED. ALTHOUGH THE PILOT HAD DOWN AND LOCK INDICATION FOR THE THREE GEAR DURING THE RECYCLING, AFTER THE FOURTH CYCLE, THERE WAS NO GEAR INDICATION, DESPITE ATTEMPTS TO EXTEND IT USING THE EMERGENCY GEAR EXTENSION SYSTEM. THE PILOT DID A LOW PASS OVER THE AIRPORT WHERE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL PERSONNEL CONFIRMED THE NOSE GEAR WAS NOT EXTENDED. THE PILOT SUBSEQUENTLY LANDED NOSE GEAR UP. EXAMINATION OF THE NOSE GEAR ASSEMBLY REVEALED THE NOSE GEAR SHOCK STRUT WAS COLLAPSED ABOUT THREE QUARTERS OF AN INCH FROM FULL EXTENSION, WHICH PREVENTED THE STRUT FROM ENGAGING THE UPLOCK DURING RETRACTION, AND PREVENT THE DEACTIVATION OF THE UNSAFE WARNING DURING EXTENSION. IT WAS ALSO DETERMINED THAT THE PARTIALLY EXTENDED STRUT COULD IMPROPERLY CONTACT THE UPLOCK, RESTRICTING THE MOVEMENT OF THE STRUT. FURTHER DISASSEMBLY CONFIRMED THE INCORRECT INSTALLATION OF THE TWO INTERNAL SEALS, WHICH WOULD PREVENT THE STRUT FROM EXTENDING FULLY.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.