Investigation number
199800423
Occurrence date
Location
Darwin Airport
State
Northern Territory
Report release date
Report status
Final
Investigation type
Occurrence Investigation
Investigation status
Completed
Aviation occurrence category
Flight control systems
Occurrence class
Incident
Highest injury level
None
After full flap was selected on late final approach, the pilot heard a loud thud, the aircraft pitched nose up and the flaps retracted rapidly. A go around was conducted while the pilot established that the aircraft operated normally, apart from the flaps. A flapless landing was carried out.
Examination of the flap system revealed a failure on the idler gear of the flap drive gearbox. The gearbox had been in service for 12,546 hours, since the aircraft was manufactured. The manufacturer had not specified any inspection schedules, the gearbox being required "on condition".
Aircraft Details
Manufacturer
Cessna Aircraft Company
Model
402
Registration
VH-RMI
Serial number
402C0408
Operation type
Air Transport Low Capacity
Sector
Piston
Departure point
Garden Point, NT
Departure time
-
Destination
Darwin, NT
Damage
Nil