Narrative:
An Airbus A320-216 operated by Alitalia suffered substantial damage in a landing accident at Roma-Fiumicino Airport (FCO), Italy. Flight 063 departed Madrid, Spain on a regular passenger flight to Rome-Fiumicino.
While on approach to runway 16L at Rome-Fiumicino Airport at 20:10 the crew attempted to lower the undercarriage. A Master Warning sounded and the ECAM showed a message "L/G GEAR NOT DOWNLOCKED". The crew carried out a missed approach procedure and entered a holding pattern at the Campagnano VOR. A g-force manoeuvre was carried out with the landing gear lever down. This resulted in a maximum value of 1.75g, according to DFDR data. When this attempt failed, they tried to recycle the landing gear and later again a gravity extension, but all measures were unsuccessful.
Consequently, the crew requested an emergency landing at Rome-Fiumicino Airport.
The aircraft touched down on runway 16L at 21.01with the right landing gear only partially extended. The flight crew shut down both engines just before touchdown. The subsequent evacuation was uneventful and there were no injuries.
CAUSES (translated from Italian):
The cause of the event is attributable to the failure of the right hand undercarriage actuator. In the same, there was a hydraulic block caused by multiple debris found within the actuator itself (as well as in the hydraulic fluid), presumably in the restrictor zone. The origin of this debris was identified in the material from the two elements called "spirolox ring" and "damping rings" found missing from their design position.
This failure seems to result in a defect in the design of the "spirolox ring", the effect of which has resulted in premature deterioration and subsequent fall of the same element, resulting in internal damage found during the actuator analysis.
Forced landing on runway
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Sunday 29 September 2013 |
| Time: | 21:01 |
| Type: |  Airbus A320-216 |
| Operator: | Alitalia |
| Registration: | EI-EIB |
| MSN: | 4249 |
| First flight: | 2010-03-16 (3 years 7 months) |
| Total airframe hrs: | 7974 |
| Cycles: | 6010 |
| Engines: | 2 CFMI CFM56-5B6/3 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 6 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 151 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 157 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Aircraft fate: | Repaired |
| Location: | Roma-Fiumicino Airport (FCO) ( Italy)
|
| Phase: | Landing (LDG) |
| Nature: | International Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD/LEMD), Spain |
| Roma-Fiumicino Airport (FCO/LIRF), Italy | |
| Flightnumber: | AZ063 |
An Airbus A320-216 operated by Alitalia suffered substantial damage in a landing accident at Roma-Fiumicino Airport (FCO), Italy. Flight 063 departed Madrid, Spain on a regular passenger flight to Rome-Fiumicino.
While on approach to runway 16L at Rome-Fiumicino Airport at 20:10 the crew attempted to lower the undercarriage. A Master Warning sounded and the ECAM showed a message "L/G GEAR NOT DOWNLOCKED". The crew carried out a missed approach procedure and entered a holding pattern at the Campagnano VOR. A g-force manoeuvre was carried out with the landing gear lever down. This resulted in a maximum value of 1.75g, according to DFDR data. When this attempt failed, they tried to recycle the landing gear and later again a gravity extension, but all measures were unsuccessful.
Consequently, the crew requested an emergency landing at Rome-Fiumicino Airport.
The aircraft touched down on runway 16L at 21.01with the right landing gear only partially extended. The flight crew shut down both engines just before touchdown. The subsequent evacuation was uneventful and there were no injuries.
Probable Cause:
CAUSES (translated from Italian):
The cause of the event is attributable to the failure of the right hand undercarriage actuator. In the same, there was a hydraulic block caused by multiple debris found within the actuator itself (as well as in the hydraulic fluid), presumably in the restrictor zone. The origin of this debris was identified in the material from the two elements called "spirolox ring" and "damping rings" found missing from their design position.
This failure seems to result in a defect in the design of the "spirolox ring", the effect of which has resulted in premature deterioration and subsequent fall of the same element, resulting in internal damage found during the actuator analysis.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Classification:
Gear-up landingForced landing on runway
Sources:
» ANSVFollow-up / safety actions
Photos
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Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Madrid-Barajas Airport to Roma-Fiumicino Airport as the crow flies is 1321 km (826 miles).
Distance from Madrid-Barajas Airport to Roma-Fiumicino Airport as the crow flies is 1321 km (826 miles).
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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