Hartsfield Jackson Atl Inter. Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Atlanta, Georgia 30337
Thursday, June 11, 2009 18:40 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While configuring the airplane for landing, the left main landing gear light indicated that it was not down and locked. The flight crew accomplished the landing gear abnormal procedures, including recycling the landing gear once. The left main gear continued to indicate unsafe, and the captain landed the airplane. After touching down on the right main and the nose gear, the captain used right aileron to keep the left wing up as long as possible. The left wing eventually dropped to the runway and the airplane came to a stop at the runway’s left edge. During recovery of the airplane, the left main gear was partially extended, and no physical obstructions were observed that would prevent the gear from extending. Loosening a hydraulic line to the left main gear actuator allowed the gear to fall into the extended and locked position. The airplane was examined and the landing gear was cycled numerous times using the normal and alternate extension methods. The examination failed to duplicate the incident conditions; the gear extended and retracted normally without hesitation or binding. All major components of the main landing gear system, including the left main landing gear, left gear door, hydraulic pumps, valves and actuators were examined at the manufacturers’ facilities. Although some minor anomalies were noted, no evidence was found to explain the failure of the gear to extend. Analysis of fluid from the numbers 2 and 3 hydraulic systems revealed that the fluid exceeded the maximum particle contamination limits. The system 3 sample also contained metallic particles. Hydraulic system 3 powers gear extension and retraction. After the incident, the operator enhanced its maintenance procedures for testing hydraulic fluid to include contamination. The operator also added verbiage to its pilot procedures to further explain that, in certain cases, it is appropriate to make several attempts at normal gear extension and provided more explanation and guidance regarding the use of the back-up (freefall) system.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The failure of the left main landing gear to extend due to high levels of particulate contamination in the hydraulic fluid.

Event Information

Type of Event Incident
Event Date 6/11/2009
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1840
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Atlanta
Event State GEORGIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 30337
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 333812N
Event Location Longitude 0842541W
Event Location Airport Hartsfield Jackson ATL Inter.
Event Location Nearest Airport ID ATL
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 1026
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1852 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID ATL
Elevation of weather observation facility 1026
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 25000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 21
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 280
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.88
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 22
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 28137
NTSB Notification Source FAA Southern ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record May 25 2011 3:10PM
User who most recently changed record johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N857AS
NTSB Number ERA09IA338
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 121: Air Carrier
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Minor
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BOMBARDIER INC
Aircraft Model CL-600-2B1
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 7411
Certified Max Gross Weight 53250
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 3
Cabin Crew Seats 2
Passenger Seats 50
Total number of seats on the aircraft 55
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection Jun 1 2009 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 22266
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name U S BANK NA TRUSTEE
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1 FEDERAL ST
Aircraft Owner City BOSTON
Aircraft Owner State MA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 02110
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Atlantic Southeast Airlines
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 990 Toffee Terrace
Operator City Atlanta
Operator State GA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 30354
Operator Code ASOA
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number ASOA029B
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) --
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code CSG
Departure City Columbus
Departure State GA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1725
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code ATL
Destination City Atlanta
Destination State GA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 28 2011 2:18PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 27R
Runway Length 11890
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --