Originally Posted by
Jeeper
The Gimli Glider nose gear did extend as per the alt extension procedure. The first indication of trouble was when the nose was lowered after landing and it lowered beyond what the pilots expected. The contact with the runway was described as akin to a shotgun blast beside your ear. Boeing were, in a perverse way, happy to find out that that the over center lock on the nose gear was not aligned properly. This problem was corrected on the assembly line and the aircraft in line operations and problems solved. BTW the cockpit indication on landing in Gimli was "three greens".
Are you saying that up to that point in time all B767's had a design flaw which would prevent a successful alternate gear extension if it was needed?
This is the first time I have heard this. Also please explain how it is possible to get "Three Green" if the nose gear is not locked down.
EDIT: This link says they did not get "Three Green":
Gimli: A Race to the Finish
Pearson ordered a "gravity drop" as Pearson thumbed frantically through the Quick Reference Handbook, or QRH. Quintal soon tossed the QRH aside and hit the button to release the gear door pins. They heard the main gear fall and lock in place. But Quintal only got two green lights, not three: the nose gear hadn't gone over centre and locked, despite the "assist" it was given by the wind.