(Scypre.com) – A recent report by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has identified improper maintenance as the cause of a dramatic landing gear failure on an Alaska Airlines flight in 2023. The incident occurred during Tropical Storm Hilary, leading to a harrowing landing but, fortunately, no injuries.
On August 20, 2023, Alaska Airlines Flight 1288, a Boeing 737-800, was en route from Seattle to John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, California. As the aircraft landed amid the heavy rain and gusty winds of Tropical Storm Hilary, its left main landing gear collapsed. The plane’s left wing dragged along the runway, producing sparks and alarming passengers. Despite the severity of the situation, all 106 passengers and six crew members evacuated safely without injuries.
The NTSB’s investigation revealed that the failure resulted from a fatigue crack in the left main landing gear’s aft trunnion pin. This crack was traced back to excessive grinding during a maintenance overhaul in July 2018, which introduced heat damage to the metal. Over time, the compromised pin weakened, ultimately fracturing during the 2023 landing.
The report emphasized that even mild heat exposure from grinding can lead to such failures, highlighting the critical importance of proper maintenance procedures.
The aircraft involved had accumulated over 4,700 landing cycles since the 2018 maintenance work. The fatigue crack had likely been present for approximately 800 landing cycles before the incident.
Post-incident analysis showed that the aircraft’s vertical acceleration upon touchdown was about 1.7g, below the threshold for a hard landing. This finding suggests that the landing itself was not excessively forceful and that the gear failure was due to the compromised trunnion pin.
In response to the NTSB’s findings, Alaska Airlines stated, “At Alaska Airlines, safety is our top priority. We appreciate the NTSB’s diligence in this investigation and are thankful to our crew members who safely operated this flight.”
The airline has since reviewed its maintenance procedures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
This incident underscores the vital importance of meticulous maintenance in aviation. Even minor oversights can lead to significant safety risks. The NTSB’s findings serve as a reminder to the aviation industry of the need for stringent maintenance standards to ensure passenger safety.