LOT B767 Belly lands

[David Knudsen]

I don't think Andrew's trying to say Qantas would have done a better or worse job, but I too am curious as to whether or not it's a standard procedure to complete a flight with a hydraulics issue or put down at the closest port.

[Rowan McKeever]

G'day Dave & Andrew

Apologies for coming across that way. My point is really just that on all the information I've seen from the LO incident it appears the crew assessed the risk as being imminent only during the landing phase and not during the cruise. In that case it makes no difference where the aircraft lands & so I imagine any airline would prefer the 'most efficient' option which would be to bring the aircraft & crew & passengers home. Sorry again for sounding accusatory Andrew.

Cheers
Rowan

[Daniel M]

Holy moly those photos are awesome, particularly the first one !

[Daniel M]

Also, is there no gravity extension system for the gear on the 767 ?

[Rowan McKeever]

My favourite's the 3rd one... just has a 'meant-to-be' look about it!!

[Grahame Hutchison]

http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=7226626

This image shows it as an almost perfect three point landing.

Things may have been different in a strong crosswind.

[Darren Butterworth]

Brilliant photos

[James S.]

Bloody brilliant job from those LOT pilots, good on them, that's what their training was for, although it's pretty amazing that everything failed for them not to even be able to get that gear down through gravity or backup systems!

[albert vasquez]

Hi
For more photos and videos check the link below out.
For those of you who speak polish heaps to read, for the others enjoy the pics vids.

http://www.tvn24.pl/13547,2476295,0,...u,galeria.html

Anyone able to answer what the problem could've been. From what they are saying on tvn24.pl it appears all of the landing gear deployment systems had failed for electrical, hydraulic and gravity assisted.

Albert

[Fred C]

Cannot help with the reason why the gear didn't extend. I am sure that will be revealed with time. I am sure Boeing would like to know why one of their aeroplanes has landed on its belly.

As for landing gear operation on a 767.............

Normal operation is you operate a lever in the flight deck which via cables operates a valve in the main gear wheel well. This then ports hydraulic fluid to doors and gear actuators in a specific sequence to successfully extend and lock the gear down.

It is believed that this aircraft had trouble with the centre hydraulic system on departure. This is the system that operates the landing gear.

Alternate operation of the gear is via an electric motor and a cable system to each of the gears. This unlocks the gear doors and allows the gear to freefall into the down and locked position.