RFDS landing gear collapse at intersecton of Essendon runways

[Adrian B]

Link to News.com.au Article (http://www.skynews.com.au/news/national/vic/2016/12/14/royal-flying-doctors-plane-has-close-call.html)

A Royal Flying Doctor Service plane has had a close call in Melbourne as its wheels collapsed after landing.

The aircraft skidded 500 metres along the runway at Essendon Airport, after the wheels collapsed while taxiing, eventually coming to a halt at the cross-roads of two runways.

Seven people were onboard but there were no injuries reported.

An investigation is underway.



Photo from article - no other source noted.

http://www.skynews.com.au/content/dam/skynews/news/national/vic/2016/12/14/skynews_1061560214.jpg/jcr:content/renditions/skynews.img.1200.745.jpeg

[Greg McDonald]

Skidded 500 metres after a collapse while TAXIING...that was a damn quick taxi then!!!

[Greg Hyde]

From ABC

Seven people on a Royal Flying Doctors plane experienced a close call when the wheels collapsed and the plane skidded 500 metres along a runway in Melbourne's north-west.

The plane was touching down at Essendon Airport about 6:30pm on Tuesday when the incident happened.

"The pilot said when he landed the wheels were in the down position and as he was taxiing it they collapsed," Commander Guy McRorie from the Metropolitan Fire Brigade said.

"It appears one of the wheels collapsed on impact and it skidded approximately 500 metres before coming to a halt at the crossroads of the runways."
Commander McRorie said the five patients, the pilot and the nurse were not injured.

The exact circumstances about how it happened are still under investigation.
"We were lucky that when the plane did stop it was in its final part of slowing down," he said.

"The pilots are a little bit shaken, they're a little bit perplexed as to why it happened but they're very grateful the plane was able to stop quickly.

"These sorts of things always have the potential for catastrophic events ... sparks flying off the wheel tips, there is always a potential for a fire."

The Royal Flying Doctor Service said it was liaising closely with aviation authorities as they investigated the incident.

In a statement the service said the health, safety and well-being of staff and patients was a top priority.

It said there was also an unrelated incident when one of its planes landed in Moomba, in South Australia on Tuesday.
No one was hurt.

Note: 2nd incident at Moomba as well

Bad couple of days for RDFS

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-12-13/royal-flying-doctor-service-plane-has-close-call-at-essendon/8117990

[Nigel C]

From reading the article and the quotes included, I think the story is getting somewhat confused in its interpretation.

I interpreted the article to be that they had landed on all three, and 500m into the landing roll when they'd slowed somewhat (back to a taxiing speed) that was when the gear collapsed.
I'd think if they landed with one wheel collapsed then they wouldn't make 500m in total.

[MarkR]

Not a good week for the RFDS and King Airs, with the accident at Moomba on Tuesday making a mess of MVL

[Greg Hyde]

Moomba Incident from ATSB

he ATSB is investigating a collision with terrain involving Beech Aircraft Corporation B200, VH-MVL, at Moomba Airport, South Australia, on 13 December 2016.

During approach, the aircraft struck the airport perimeter fence and collided with terrain. The pilot and passengers were not injured. The aircraft sustained substantial damaged.

http://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2016/aair/ao-2016-170/

[Adrian B]

I know there are a couple of ex RFDS a/c for sale, wondering if they take one back until a replacement can be sourced given the fitout the need?