Real Tonga Stack the Queenair!

[Wingman09]

Here is the Article:

"Thank God we are saved!" | Matangi Tonga (http://matangitonga.to/2014/04/30/thank-god-we-are-saved)

Some interesting reading in this, its been labelled as landing gear failure around Tonga in the media. But reading some of the passengers comments suspects may have forgot to put it down.

Not sure why you would land at this airstrip Eua 700m when you have a 2700m runway 10nm away at Fua'amotu if you had gear problems.

[Mach E Avelli]

Operating an old Queen Air loaded with heavy people into a 700 metre unsealed strip was bound to eventually end in tears one way or another.
Maybe landing gear up was the best way to achieve stopping distance.?

[Capn Bloggs]

They took their hand baggage with them. Idiots! :) :p

[prospector]

Is that what used to be VH-AEQ and then ZK-WKA?

[Dash8capt]

Why anyone would operate a queeny commercially these days is beyond me. Great plane to fly but the economics just aren't there. It's salsas to say but the sooner airframes like this are retired the better.

[Eurocap]

The strip at Eua has been sealed for the last two years.

One has to ask the question: If the pilot knew he had an undercarriage problem why did he land at Eua. No engineering support, a multi direction strip airfield at Fua'amotu which is 13 Nm away with Fire/Rescue availability.
Methinks the pilot forgot to put the gear down.:ugh::ugh::mad:

[Mr Milk]

Certainly is prospector :mad:

[waren9]

bugger.

looks like the nose gear is partially extended/collapsed? does the type have a gear not down horn with closed throttles?

[sms777]

All the Queenairs I used to fly had a parabolic mirror attached to the left engine nacelle so with a quick glance you could confirm that the nose gear is down. It was carved into my head not to ever forget to look.
As for a horn, there is one set at around 20" of map at the throttle. The problem is that because being gear driven I have always landed with power on and reduce throttle in the flare. If you don't do your pre landing checks it can catch you.

[Eurocap]

The nosegear does look as though it is partially extended but why would you belly land the aircraft at Eua when Fua'amotu is 13NM away with all the facilities. It defies belief.:(:(

[sms777]

After looking at those photos again I am under the impression that the gear was on it's way down during the flare.....:{

[prospector]

There is another possible explanation, the gear and flap lever's are alongside each other, if the flap is selected up immediately after landing, presumably to get better braking,and the gear up lever is selected by mistake, . before the weight comes on the main legs to activate the squat switch, then the gear will wind itself up. The systems are electrical.

[Mach E Avelli]

Well, sealed or no, if that strip is still only 700 metres long they were going to hurt someone if they had continued operating a Queen Air there.
So, maybe a good thing that they trashed it so soon. Shame, though, to see nice airframes end their days like this.

[porch monkey]

Poor old AEQ. She was a good bus. Guess that's the end for another Excaliber........

[Eurocap]

Any more info on this incident? Is the aircraft still at Eua?:confused::confused:

[Sector3]

Real Tonga suspends pilot

Monday, May 5, 2014 - 17:22


Nuku'alofa, Tonga




The pilot of a Real Tonga Queen Air that made an emergency belly-landing at the ‘Eua airstrip last week has been suspended.


In a statement today, Real Tonga airlines said, “After consultation with the Civil Aviation Department, the operating captain has been stood down from duty pending the completion of a full investigation of the incident.”


The small aircraft was on a scheduled service between Tongatapu and ‘Eua, on 30 April when the pilot “was required to affect a belly landing, according to the airlines’ documented standard operating procedures.”


However, Real Tonga stated that the reason for the emergency procedure had yet to be determined. The aircraft had been secured in ‘Eua, awaiting a full investigation by Civil Aviation authorities.


The statement which did not name the pilot, also said that the airline was in the process of recruiting more pilots.


Real Tonga said that the senior managers from the airline had visited all passengers that were onboard the aircraft and who had suffered no injuries in the emergency landing.


“The passengers have all commended the professionalism of the pilot in charge.”


Real Tonga are organizing an additional aircraft to support its existing fleet and expected that the replacement may be available in Tonga as early as next week.


Airline operations were continuing, with some changes to the published schedules until a replacement aircraft was brought into operation.


Real Tonga suspends pilot | Matangi Tonga (http://matangitonga.to/2014/05/05/real-tonga-suspends-pilot)