The failure of part of an Aer Lingus jet's landing gear last year could have led to the pilots losing control of the aircraft with tragic consequences had it happened in the air, a US Federal aviation safety agency has warned.
In a report issued in Washington on Monday, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) called for special checks on the landing gear of most Boeing 737 aircraft worldwide.
A part of the Aer Lingus Boeing 737's landing gear known as a "walking beam" failed during take-off off from Amsterdam in August last year. A loud bang was heard in the cockpit when the gear was retracted but the pilot decided to carry on to Dublin.
Another loud bang was heard on landing in Dublin and after an inspection it was found a landing gear part used to help retract it had failed, causing serious damage to the undercarriage and to the wing. In addition, cables which control the spoilers - flaps which are used to slow the aircraft - had been severed and cables controlling the ailerons - other flaps which make the aircraft turn - had been damaged.
An Aer Lingus spokeswoman said yesterday that the October checks showed up no further landing gear faults. She added that the airline is awaiting the official Air Accident Investigation Unit report and is now studying the National Transportation Safety Board's recommendations.
According to the NTSB's report, the incident was so serious the pilots could have lost control of the aircraft had the cables parted when they were in the air.
Faulty maintenance, which allowing the part to corrode, has been blamed for the Aer Lingus near-accident. The report said the part was sandblasted during maintenance at FLS Aerospace, formerly TEAM Aer Lingus, in January 1998 but aluminium oxide particles, used in the process, were not properly cleaned off and caused corrosion leading to last August's failure.
Although Boeing issued a warning about the hazard in January 2003, Aer Lingus had until 2008 to check the part, or whenever the aircraft was next overhauled. Now the NTSB wants the Federal Aviation Administration to issue an urgent airworthiness directive to all airlines requiring them to immediately check the landing gear.
The Aer Lingus incident was the fourth time a similar fault occurred on Boeing 737 aircraft in recent years.