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Fokker 100 Gear Sensor Failure


Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Andreas Fietz

What: Contact Air /Lufthansa Fokker 100 en route from Stuttgart to Berlin
Where: Stuttgart
When: Nov 20th 2009
Who: 75 passengers
Why: While en route, the gear proximity sensor failed, indicating that gear was indicated unsafe after retraction. The flight returned to Stuttgart, and had to be towed as nose gear steering was inoperable.

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Stuttgart: Fokker Foam Landing Update


Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact Photographer Bernd Sturm

What: ContactAir Fokker 100/Lufthansa en route from from Berlin Tegel to Stuttgart
Where: Stuttgart
When: Sep 14th 2009
Who: 73 passengers including Franz Muentefering and 5 crew (6 injury/issues)
Why:
Update:
According to news releases quoting Lufthansa, the Stuttgart emergency landing on Sept. 14 was “probably caused by a valve part that came loose and blocked the landing gear’s hydraulic system.”
“Part of a valve came loose internally and blocked a hydraulic line…It worked like a stopper.”

George’s Point of View

Maintenance, maintenance, maintenance. It’s a 14 year old plane. Should I repeat “maintenance” 14 times? It’s not as if the plane were self-aware and could tighten or replace its own valves.

The plane’s last inspection was in August, prior to Contact Air acquiring the plane. Even if Contact Air is not legally required to perform a post-purchase inspection, it seems like it would be a reasonable thing for a new owner to do.

If this were a used car purchase, would we take it for an inspection with our own mechanics, and to get tags?

See archives:

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Stuttgart: Fokker Foam Landing


Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact Photographer Bernd Sturm

What: ContactAir Fokker 100/Lufthansa en route from from Berlin Tegel to Stuttgart
Where: Stuttgart
When: Sep 14th 2009
Who: 73 passengers including Franz Muentefering and 5 crew (6 injury/issues)
Why: After lowering the gear on approach to Stuttgart, the plane indicated an unsafe gear indication. The main gear would not lower; and after a holding pattern and attempts to resolve the issue, the plane made a belly landing on foam. Passengers debarked via slides.

Franz Muentefering, chairman of Germany’s Social Democratic Party was on board, en route to an election rally.

Five passengers were treated for shock, one flight attendant was hospitalized, but only one passenger was injured.


Video in German