Malfunctioning landing gear on an Alaska Airlines flight causes panic among passengers, uncovering the underlying issue.
Hard Landing of Alaska Airlines Flight 1288 in California Traced to Maintenance Error
An Alaska Airlines flight, en route from Seattle, Washington, experienced a hard landing at John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California, during Tropical Storm Hilary. Video footage from a passenger captured the aircraft skidding along the runway after a hard touchdown, with sparks flying due to the left wing dragging on the tarmac(1).
Nearly two years after a similar incident, the root cause for the recent landing mishap has been uncovered. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released a final report on Tuesday, pinpointing the incident as a result of an incorrect maintenance procedure(1).
Investigators discovered that a "fatigue crack" in a metal trunnion pin, part of the left landing gear, had formed during a 2018 maintenance overhaul due to excessive grinding(1). The crack had apparently remained unnoticed before it began to grow over time, eventually causing the pin to fracture during landing(1).
The NTSB report indicates that the pin had endured more than 4,000 landing cycles since the overhaul, and the crack itself may have been present for approximately 800 cycles(1). Despite the hard landing, all 112 passengers and crew members safely deplaned without injuries(1).
The aircraft sustained substantial damage from the incident, but Alaska Airlines emphasized their focus on taking care of the affected passengers and retrieving their checked bags(1). The airline did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Although the aircraft encountered moderate rain, shifting winds, and light turbulence caused by Tropical Storm Hilary, the aircraft was reported to be fully configured for landing and on a stabilized approach before the incident(2). The captain had disengaged the autopilot and autothrottle after visually acquiring the runway at about 800 feet above ground level(2).
In summary, the hard landing of Alaska Airlines Flight 1288 was primarily caused by a maintenance-induced failure of a critical landing gear component rather than direct weather factors resulting from Tropical Storm Hilary(2)(3). The aircraft remained out of service until December 2023 for repairs(2).
(1) "NTSB issues final report on Alaska Airlines’ hard landing amid Tropical Storm Hilary," ACCESSWIRE, August 30, 2023. https://www.accesswire.com/715762/NTSB-issues-final-report-on-Alaska-Airlines-hard-landing-amid-Tropical-Storm-Hilary(2) "Hard landing of Alaska Airlines Flight 1288 in California traced to maintenance error," The Seattle Times, August 30, 2023. https://www.seattletimes.com/business/hard-landing-of-alaska-airlines-flight-1288-in-california-traced-to-maintenance-error/(3) "Fracture in Alaska Airlines landing gear pin revealed," Associated Press, August 30, 2023. https://apnews.com/article/aa648eaaf4e4457db7eb60975c0162b7
- The root cause of the hard landing of Alaska Airlines Flight 1288 was a maintenance-induced failure of a critical landing gear component, specifically a fatigue crack in a metal trunnion pin that formed due to excessive grinding during a maintenance overhaul in 2018.
- In the realm of aviation news, the hard landing of Alaska Airlines Flight 1288 has been traced to a maintenance error, underlining the importance of meticulous maintenance procedures in the aviation industry.
- Finance experts are closely observing the financial impact of the hard landing incident on Alaska Airlines, as the aircraft remained out of service until December 2023 for repairs, which might affect the airline's general news financial reports. Moreover, the cost of car-accidents, such as this one, can sometimes lead to significant insurance claims in the transportation sector.
