Summary
- A United Airlines Boeing 767-300ER experienced a tough landing at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, causing significant damage and triggering an NTSB investigation.
- The hard landing occurred after the nose wheel made contact with abnormal force, causing multiple bounces and putting extra strain on the aircraft’s nose gear.
- The 767-300ER involved within the incident, N641UA, is the oldest member of United Airlines’ 767-300ER fleet and now faces doubts about its ability to handle further flights as a result of visible stress on its skin.
A July 29 hard landing of a United Airlines Boeing 767-300ER in N641UA not only caused significant damage but is under National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation. In accordance with the NTSB’s preliminary report, the aircraft “sustained substantial damage” from a tough landing.
One rough landing
United Airlines Flight 702 was an uneventful flight with a Boeing 767-300ER from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), Houston, Texas right up until the hard landing. In accordance with the NTSB’s preliminary report, while landing at IAH, the First Officer was flying and, despite best efforts to maintain the nose wheel from bouncing,
The nose wheel made contact with abnormal force. The airplane appeared to bounce, and he reacted by pulling aft on the control yoke, in an effort to maintain the nose wheel from impacting the runway a second time. Subsequently, the speed brakes deployed, and the auto brakes engaged which resulted in a second bounce of the nose wheel.
These bounces caused 1.4 times the load of gravity to hit the nose gear the primary time. After the speed brakes deployed, the second bounce put 1.6 times the load of gravity on the nose gear, and the third bounce after the thrust reversers got here out was the identical force of 1.6 g. Then, the pilot took over control. The aircraft then made a protected taxi to the gate.
Photo: NTSB
Nonetheless, there was clear visible stress on the 767-300ER skin. Which means that there are doubts the 767 can handle further pressurization cycles and the aircraft has not been flown since.
Contributing aspects
The weather had a mild 5-knot, 220-degree wind, and only 40 degrees crosswind on runway 26L. Nonetheless, in line with The Aviation Herald, there have been several incidents leading as much as this difficult landing.
One incident on March 28 had the slats disagree in flight. One other had an engine shut down in flight. Each this yr, in line with The Aviation Herald. Clearly, N641UA was showing its age.
About N641UA
N641UA is a United Airlines Boeing 767-322ER WIN and the oldest member of the 767-300ER family in United Airlines service. In accordance with the ch-aviation.com database, the 767 had a March 12, 1991 first flight and can likely be retired next month after 32.46 years of world flight. As early as June 23, 1991, N641UA was spotted on final to London’s Heathrow: