PIA plane escapes fatal crash in Muscat

[inducedrag]

A0064/13 notamn
q) oomm/qmrlc/iv/nbo/a/000/999/2335n05816e005
a) ooms b) 1302111037 c) 1302111500
d) on 11 feb btn 1037/1500
e) rwy 08r/26l is blocked due to disable aircraft, update will be
after two hours stop

[jetjockey696]

http://sphotos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/71853_10151484246566153_533541932_n.jpg

A Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) aircraft escaped a fatal crash after its landing gear broke prior to landing on Monday, reported Express News.

The plane, coming from Sialkot, was landing in Muscat when the landing gear reportedly broke down. The aircraft, however, successfully landed with all 150 passengers safe, reported Express News correspondent Aftab Khan.

A PIA spokesperson refuted the reports and said that the aircraft had only experienced a technical fault which did not cause any inconvenience.

PIA aircraft have experienced several technical faults in the past causing inconvenience to passengers.

The Express Tribune..11.02.2013

[TopSwiss 737]

The Aviation Herald (http://avherald.com/h?article=45d93bd3&opt=0) reports: a PIA Pakistan International Airlines Boeing 737-300 landed on Muscat's runway 08R/26L at 13:25L (09:25Z), but suffered the collapse of the left main gear. The aircraft came to stop on the runway and was disabled.

[J.O.]

Escaped a fatal crash? A bit over-dramatic, aren't we? :bored:

[Mr Good Cat]

Escaped a fatal crash? A bit over-dramatic, aren't we?

Can't argue with the logic of the statement... Almost ALL landing aircraft escape a fatal crash, no? :)

I would however, question the professionality of the rescue service guy in the photo who seems more preoccupied with doing the hula-hoop.

[screwballburling]

Storm in a teacup if you ask me.

[Dg800]

A PIA spokesperson refuted the reports and said that the aircraft had only experienced a technical fault which did not cause any inconvenience.

He definitely got the "technical fault" part right. I doubt however that there was no "inconvenience" caused, as they had to shut down the only available runway and hence the whole airport for some time. :} What a clown.

[RAT 5]

For accuracy: one agency 'Express News' said the gear failed before landing: 'AV Herald' said it failed on landing. Which was it? What gear indication did they have? Any reports of what failed, mechanically? If it failed on landing and was a surprise they did a good job of keeping it on the concrete; but that might depend at what speed it failed.
How long after the escape with death is the photo. I don't see any steps or slides or doors, so i assume they are all still cocooned inside.

[akerosid]

Aircraft has been in service with PIA since the mid-1980s, regularly used for Gulf flights, as well as domestic sectors.

JetPhotos.Net Photo » AP-BEH (CN: 25504) Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Boeing 737-33A by John Fitzpatrick (http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=7261321&nseq=0)

One of the 737s has already been cannibalised for spares. PK is trying to acquire new narrowbody aircraft, but financing has been a problem.

[captjns]

Most important point... no one way trips to the meat locker:ok:.

[RemoveB4Flght]

I'm no accident investigator, and who knows how many factually details will come out. (perhaps someone was on frequency and heard some transmissions).

From the photo, a couple things stand out. There doesn't seem to be too much damage to the gear that is folded in. Tires intact, not twisted or sheared in an abnormal direction. The gear door is partially open, and there is some fluid present, but that could have come from the nacelle. Also they are still on the runway, a bit off centerline but it's possible they may not have even taken out any edge lights. As stated the lack of blown slides and no evidence of post crash fire show either the cabin experience was benign, or that they were hoping some nice fella at Oman air would just DDL the left main gear and engine and allow them to carry on and minimize delay.

It would appear to me that it was known before touch down that a main was not down and locked, and it was flown accordingly, and then at a slow speed the left wing finally stopped flying and that pulled them a bit cockeyed. If so, I would say well done.

Now, to the supper guppy pilots, any specifics on the gear system, gravity extension, is it possible to shake or yaw the plane and let springs and the over center locks to snap that main into place?

[Cough]

I doubt its a gear door hanging down...

The pool of fluid is likely to be hydraulic fluid where some pipes to the brakes that have been disturbed. It could even be from the A/C packs if they are still on... Few other sources possible obviously!

[CargoMatatu]

Well, that's it then. Case solved and closed in 11 posts!

:D:D:D:D

[Airmann]

Is the reverser on number 1 deployed, or is that just a shadow? If it is that seems to indicate an unanticipated collapse after landing.

[MrMachfivepointfive]

Naw. I guess the cowling just did not appreciate being dragged across the tarmac.

[lomapaseo]

Most planes manage to avoid fatal crashes on landing. I'm not sure what the thread headline was supposed to mean.

On the B737 there is always the back up landing gear of an engine to slide on.

An exciting technical fault - yes

[akerosid]

Quote:
"Aircraft has been in service with PIA since the mid-1980s, regularly used for Gulf flights, as well as domestic sectors."

My error: the aircraft was actually only in the fleet since 2004, before which it was used by the Pakistan Govt as a VIP aircraft. (The rest of the PK 737 fleet is of mid-1980s vintage).

Probably a significantly lower time acft than the rest of the fleet - making it more likely that it will be repaired. (In any case, damage seems minimal).

[crewmeal]

For accuracy: one agency 'Express News' said the gear failed before landing: 'AV Herald' said it failed on landing. Which was it? What gear indication did they have? Any reports of what failed, mechanically? If it failed on landing and was a surprise they did a good job of keeping it on the concrete; but that might depend at what speed it failed.
How long after the escape with death is the photo. I don't see any steps or slides or doors, so i assume they are all still cocooned inside.

I'm sure the Daily Mail will come up with the truth.

[Farrell]

Aircraft left main gear collapsed on the roll-out.
No casualties.
Has now been moved.
Runway reopened.

[avicurious]

So many experts and …

This is probably the technique used to create the distinctive non-circular air intake,
or the "hamster pouch" inlet of the 737 ... :oh:


Sorry ...

[nitpicker330]

RemoveB4flight:---- The 737 does not have main gear doors. The outboard side of the wheel has a hub cap.

The Boeing 737 Technical Site (http://www.b737.org.uk/landinggear.htm#General)

[tolip111111]

The gear door is partially open, and there is some fluid present

I doubt its a gear door hanging down...


Are you guys sure that the 737 has a main landing gear door??:ugh::ugh::ugh:

[nitpicker330]

Crickey mate look up one post!!!!!!!

I've already pointed out their mistake and given evidence in support :rolleyes:

[Vc10Tail]

A sign of tired aircraft or tired crew.....a new label should be procured in these modern days of cut throat competition...not Pilot error....:oh: but perhaps "Airline Error"!!!:E

[DownIn3Green]

I wonder how fast they were going when the gear failed? I don't see any skid marks behind the left wheel...hmmm....

Could it be he was attempting a 180 and perhaps side loaded the gear a little too much? After all, the plane has come to rest far left of the centerline...

[Cough]

Toplip11111.

Exactly the reason I doubted that he could see one. Next time I'll be less subtle.

[bubbers44]

Gear collapsed. It happens sometime. Not life threatening.

[Spacepope]

Looking at the photo of the aircraft earlier in the thread I have this question:

If the left main gear simply failed and swung back, wouldn't the tires be closer to the midline than they are?

The geometry seems such that there may be a bit of a rearwards track to the failure, perhaps to where the gear mounts to the rest of the aircraft. Any more detailed pics?

[Landflap]

Cargomatatu; Yeah. Laughable innit ? The Pprune Aircrash Investigation Team very quick to set up the Board of Inquiry & offer all sorts of explanation ! After 11 postings the inside team offer solutions. The same team, sometimes harangue real professional pilots with advice like "you need to get out more.", if you dare to disagree ! Now, I must look at the pics of the PIA plane, measure some skidmarks I see in the mud, apply some enhanced computer generated software into hardware, determine the forward velocity of the left tire tread and offer my solution to the Pprune ACIT. Nah, think I will get out a bit more. More seriously, good pics & reminder of how vulnerable we all are. Must pop that pic in my file under 'If you can walk away from it, it WAS a good landing'.

[Vc10Tail]

Yupp! It was good enough! ...Or a "lucky landing" shall we say??:suspect:

[iflytb20]

Found this online. Taken shortly after the incident I think:bored:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8382/8469923091_ca6e5e1628.jpg

[latetonite]

Was probably the plane they usually reserve for base training..:uhoh:

[bubbers44]

A gear collapsing rarely causes any fatalities so the title is hyped up a lot. It just shut down the runway for a while and caused a lot of aircraft damage on the left side. End of story. Get over it..