The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has begun an official investigation into the landing gear malfunction that forced a Jetstar Airbus A320 to return to Sydney on a flight to the Gold Coast last Thursday.
The flight was delayed by about 90 minutes. The plane turned back after an onboard alert.
According to initial investigations by the ATSB, the left main landing gear torque damper pin sheared off during take-off – meaning that the landing gear could not be retracted. That’s why the captain ordered an immediate return to Sydney.
The pin fell off and landed on the tarmac.
“During a runway inspection, the pin was located on the runway,” the ATSB confirmed – adding “the post-flight inspection revealed that three hydraulic lines were damaged”.
The ATSB is now interviewing those involved to gather additional information before compiling a report on the incident.
“Should a critical safety issue be identified during the course of the investigation, the ATSB will immediately notify relevant stakeholders so appropriate and timely safety action can be taken,” the ATSB stated.
Written by Peter Needham
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