An Okay Airways MA60 retracting the undercarriage afte takeoff (Photo: byeangel / CC:Bync-sa)
The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) ordered landing gear checks of MA60 turboprop aircraft following recent incidents.
The Xian MA60, a Chinese manufactured 60-passenger turboprop airliner, was involved in two incidents in China in February 2013. On February 4, a Joy Air MA60 suffered a nose gear collapse on landing at Zhengzhou. Three weeks later, the crew of an Okay Airways MA60 aborted the approach due to unsafe gear indications. A safe landing was carried out at Shenyang.
These incidents prompted the CAAC to issue three airworthiness directives (AD’s) on the issue. The AD’s call for a revision of the Airplane Flight Manual and an inspection of the undercarriage and gear annunciation system for all aircraft that have logged more than 6400 takeoffs.
A total of 15 aircraft are affected by the measure. Five are operated by Joy Air and others by Okay Airways, Lao Airlines, Air Zimbabwe, TAM of Bolivia and aircraft that were operated in the Philippines by Zest Air
More information:
- ASN Accident Description Okay Airways flight BK2870
- ASN Accident Description Joy Air flight 1533
- CAAC press release (Chinese)