taken from jacdec.de
DATE: 13.04.2011 LOCAL TIME: - LOCATION: Caracas-Maiquetia Intl AP (SVMI) COUNTRY: Venezuela
AIRLINE: Air France TYPE: Airbus A330-200 REGISTRATION: F-GZCB C/N: 443 AGE: 9 y + 4 m
OPERATION: ISP FLIGHT No.: AF 471 FROM: Caracas TO: Paris-CDG VIA: -
OCCUPANTS: PAX: - CREW: -
FATALITIES: PAX: 0 CREW: 0 OTHER: 0
INJURIES: PAX: 0 CREW: 0 OTHER: 0
DAMAGE TO AIRCRAFT: minor /
substantial 1
Very soon after departure, the pilots received indication about a fault in the gear retraction system and elected to return to land. On landing return, the A330 made a hard touchdown resulting in structural damage to the fuselage and both maingear legs. Longer maintenance expected.
Happened in darkness. Center Fuselage wrinkled. Both mlg needed replacement confirmed.. No pics unfortunately.
No idea why the landing return turned out to be so severe. Pirep would be interesting to read.