Loose connection responsible for aircraft landing drama
Print Edition
CHINA’S MA-60 passenger aircraft resumed flights yesterday after investigators found that a loose connection was responsible for instrument problems in a flight last month.
The twin-engined turboprop was grounded after an incident on February 25 involving an MA-60 attempting to land at Shenyang Taoxian International Airport in northeast China’s Liaoning Province.
Instruments indicated landing gear had not descended on the Okay Airways flight from the northern city of Tianjin, carrying 38 passengers and five crew.
It finally landed safely after circling for more than two hours after visual checks from the ground confirmed that the landing gear had indeed lowered.
This was a “one-off” incident caused by the cumulative effects of long flying hours and turbulence, the aircraft’s manufacturer, Aviation Industry Corp of China, said yesterday.
Engineers have ruled out further problems and given the all-clear for grounded MA-60s in China to resume operations, said Tang Jun, general manager of Aviation Industry Corp of China.
“A connection in the indication system for the landing gear came loose following long flying hours and turbulence. This affected the signal communication and caused the malfunction,” Tang said.
It wrongly indicated that the landing gear had failed to lower, said Tang.
Last month also saw another incident involving an MA-60’s landing gear.
The nose wheel of a Joyair MA-60 broke and collapsed after the aircraft landed at Xinzheng International Airport in Zhengzhou, capital of central China’s Henan Province, on February 4.
The nose hit the runway but the 37 passengers and seven crew were unhurt.
Last month’s incidents have not dented customer confidence, insisted Tang.
“Carriers said they understood the incidents and have seen our responsible attitude,” Tang added.
The 50-seat MA-60 first flew in 2000. More than 210 have been sold.
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