LA emergency landing is at least seventh involving sideways gear

AP ^ | 9/22/5 | LESLIE MILLER

[SmithL]

WASHINGTON -- There have been at least seven cases in which the front wheels on Airbus A320s became stuck in a sideways position, forcing pilots to make emergency landings.

No one was hurt in any of the landings, the latest of which occurred Wednesday night in front of a national television audience when a JetBlue plane touched down in Los Angeles amid smoke and sparks as the front tires disintegrated.

The incidents, unnerving to be sure, are nonetheless considered anomalies and have not prompted federal authorities to take action beyond ordering airlines to follow Airbus instructions for replacing rubber seals on the gear.

With about 2,500 Airbus A320s in operation worldwide, the number of incidents involving jammed nose gear is not significant, Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Greg Martin said Thursday.

[SmithL]

I'm not reassured.

[garyhope]

Only 7 huh?

Well then, that's OK. Un huh. Yeah, right.

[alisasny]

No one was hurt in any of the landings,

So the tv coverage was much ado about nothing. Actually I found it ghoulish. Once it landed safe the story was over.

[Cicero]

"It's definitely not the most common way," said Chuck Eastlake, aerospace engineering professor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Fla. "The reason is that the ability of the nose wheel to rotate 90 degrees introduces the possibility of failure, exactly like what we saw."

Hmm. I don't know why we should be kinder to Airbus just because it's a French company. It sounds as if, once again, they chose to use questionable technology, as they did with the laminated tail assembly. If the O-ring leaks, which is not uncommon, then you're in serious trouble. Just one more thing that has to be constantly checked for safety.

[Terabitten]

OK, so lemme get this right. The tires retract so that they're "flat" against the belly of the aircraft, right. Then when they extend, they don't rotate 90 degrees so they're in line with the center axis of the aircraft?

Methinks that is a pretty serious design flaw.

[Antonello]

...incidents involving jammed nose gear is not significant

Somehow I get the feeling the significance level would rise a little depending if you were on one of these planes when the gear sticks.

[Morgan in Denver]

You beat me to the French connection, but I get to say it's Bush's fault first.

[mlc9852]

And I'm sure the MSM were disappointed it didn't turn into a disaster.

[Antonello]

And I'm sure the MSM were disappointed it didn't turn into a disaster.

I'm sure they had mixed feelings. Sure, dead bodies are good for business, but the plane was built by their beloved French.

[sionnsar]

Ugh. Am liking ErrBus less & less.

[evolved_rage]

This is a stupid plane. The tires can turn the wrong way, there is no way to drain fuel other than flying it off. I bet the toilets empty out into the walkways like in Paris...

[agincourt1415]

French built, that figures.

[safisoft]

Hmm. I don't know why we should be kinder to Airbus just because it's a French company.

First, Airbus is not a French company. It is a consortium made up of British, French, German, and Spanish companies.

Second, the A320 has a huge percentage of parts manufactured by U.S. companies.

It sounds as if, once again, they chose to use questionable technology, as they did with the laminated tail assembly.

You are making it sound as if composite vertical stabilizers are an Airbus thing. They are not. All Boeing 757, 767, and 777 have the composite vertical stabilizer. When you get the Boeing 787 it will be the most 'laminated' aircraft in history.

[msnimje]

Didn't Paula Jones say BJ Clinton has sideways gear?

[JubJub]

Maybe this will take legal action by passengers seeking damages for severe emotional distress. I deplore abuses of the legal system for this kind or crap, but if it were one of my loved ones.........

[agincourt1415]

Ya gotta be impressed with the Pilot, straight down the centerline of the runway. Not an inch off centerline at all.

Of course there's a BIG GOUGE in the area where he stopped.

[inkling]

I'm flying Jet Blue crosscountry next week. Wheeee.

Is there a list of which airlines use Boeing and which use Airbus?

[Meadow Muffin]

Isn't the Airbus a French designed plane??

[Leo Carpathian]

Lefties Frenchies make ErrBus preprogrammed to make only left turns (90 de-grease :-). Not supposed to land on straight American runways.
Why surprised?

[Dark Knight]

A few years ago I subscribed to Risks email. The safety of different airframes was a constant discussion. They consistantly rated under 25 year old 747's the safest. Safest by number of landing, passenger mile, plane mile, hours of flight, etc.

Anyone know if that is still true?

DK