Preliminary report of Dana aircraft veerung off runway
Preliminary report into the Dana Air incident on April 23, 2024 at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos has been released by the National Safety Investigation Bureau, NSIB.
The aircraft an MD-82 operated by Dana Air veered off the runway, the incident occurred shortly after the aircraft, registration 5N-BKI and operating as flight DAN0352, arrived from Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Incident Overview:
According to NSIB report, they were alerted by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) about the occurrence. Investigators were dispatched immediately to the site to begin their probe under the Civil Aviation (Investigation of Air Accidents and Incidents) Regulations 2023 and Annex 13 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation.
Flight Details:
The aircraft departed Abuja at 08:20 with 89 people on board, including six crew members. The flight was routine until the final approach to runway 18L at Lagos.
At this stage, the First Officer, who was the Pilot Flying (PF), called for the landing gear to be deployed. While the main landing gear indicators showed green, indicating they were locked down, the nose landing gear (NLG) indicator showed red.
The crew attempted to recycle the landing gear and performed the Emergency Gear Extension Checklist, but the NLG indicator remained red. Consequently, the crew decided to execute a go-around and perform a low pass to allow the control tower to visually confirm the NLG status. The tower reported that the NLG appeared to be down.
Final Approach and Landing:
DAN0352 was vectored for another approach. During the landing at 09:38, the crew reported severe vibrations and a loud noise from the NLG area. The NLG collapsed at about 80 knots during the landing roll, causing the aircraft to veer off the runway into the grass verge before coming to a stop. The Captain then ordered an evacuation through the forward service door. All occupants evacuated safely and without injury.
Initial Findings:
- The flight crew were licensed and certified.
- The aircraft had a valid Certificate of Airworthiness.
- Despite multiple attempts, the NLG indicator remained red.
- The crew followed emergency procedures and consulted the Quick Reference Handbook (QRH).
- Severe vibrations and a loud noise were noted during landing.
- The Ground Spoilers did not deploy automatically.
- The aircraft veered off the runway after the NLG collapsed.
Further Investigative Actions:
The NSIB’s investigation is ongoing. Future steps include detailed analysis of flight recorder data, further evidence collection, and inspection of the aircraft’s systems and components.
The NSIB reports that, the incident occurred under daylight and Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC) were present at the time. The Aerodrome Rescue and Fire Fighting Service (ARFFS) responded promptly, ensuring the safe evacuation of all passengers and crew.
The NSIB says, it will continue its investigation to uncover the underlying causes of the incident and recommend necessary safety measures.
