British Airways jet took a nose dive because mechanic was too short to lock landing gear

Telegraph reporters
·2 min read
The flight tipped on its nose as it was preparing for a flight to Frankfurt on June 18
The flight tipped on its nose as it was preparing for a flight to Frankfurt on June 18

A British Airways jet collapsed on its nose at Heathrow Airport after a mechanic was too short to lock its landing gear into place, a report has revealed.

The lead mechanic was tasked with securing the nose landing gear of the Boeing 787-8 in the down position before a planned flight to Germany last month.

But according to the Air Accidents Investigation Branch report, he was “not tall enough” to reach a pin needed to lock landing gear, so asked a taller colleague to perform the task. However, the second mechanic put the pin in the wrong recess.

The error meant the nose landing gear suddenly retracted into the flying position when the hydraulics were tested by an engineer on the flight deck.

It caused the aircraft to smash down to the ground as it was being prepared for a flight to Frankfurt, causing extensive damage to the lower nose, the landing gear doors and engine cowlings.

A cargo loader who was on the ground beside the aircraft and the co-pilot on the flight deck received minor injuries, the report stated.

The correct (left) and incorrect position (right) for the nose gear locking pin on the British Airways jet - AAIB/East Anglia News Service
The correct (left) and incorrect position (right) for the nose gear locking pin on the British Airways jet - AAIB/East Anglia News Service

It added that the lead mechanic had used a set of portable steps to install the four locking pins for the main landing gear of the aircraft.

The successful installation meant that the main landing gear did not retract when the hydraulics were tested and only the nose of the aircraft was affected.

Hundreds of passengers witnessed the incident, which took place just before 7am on June 18.

Investigators found that the nose landing gear locking pin had accidentally been put in a recess called the apex pin inner bore instead of the correct hole which was adjacent to it.

An identical error was made on another Boeing 787 in 2018, causing its nose to collapse on the tarmac. As a result, Boeing said work should be carried out to stop the locking pin being placed in the wrong position.

The Federal Aviation Administration stated in January last year that the work should be done on all relevant Boeing jets within three years. But the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) report found that the work had not yet been done on the British Airways aircraft involved in the accident.

It added that British Airways was now planning to “expedite the incorporation” of the recommended safety improvement to its fleet.

The airline added in a statement: “Safety is always our highest priority and we are working closely with the AAIB on the continuing investigation.”