The TSB has completed this investigation. The report was published on 20 July 2020.
Landing with partially extended landing gear
PAL Airlines Ltd.
Bombardier DHC-8-315, C-FPAE
Stephenville, Newfoundland and Labrador
The occurrence
On , the PAL Airlines Ltd. Bombardier DHC-8-315 aircraft (registration C‑FPAE, serial number 562) departed Churchill Falls, Newfoundland and Labrador, as flight PVL1922 on an instrument flight rules flight to Deer Lake, Newfoundland and Labrador, with 4 crew members and 47 passengers on board.
At 1057 Newfoundland Standard Time, during the approach at Deer Lake, the flight crew selected the landing gear down; however, a weight on wheels caution light as well as advisory lights illuminated, indicating that the nose landing gear was not in the down‑and‑locked position. The flight crew executed a missed approach and entered a hold in order to troubleshoot the problem. At 1202, the flight crew requested a diversion to Stephenville, Newfoundland and Labrador, and declared an emergency. At 1230, the aircraft landed at Stephenville with the nose landing gear in a partially extended position. On touchdown, the nose landing gear fully collapsed, and the aircraft nose structure came into contact with the runway surface. The aircraft slid and came to a stop approximately halfway down the runway.
All occupants on board egressed the aircraft, and no injuries were reported. The aircraft sustained minor damage. There was no post-impact fire. The impact forces were insufficient to automatically activate the emergency locator transmitter. The accident occurred during the hours of daylight.
Media materials
News release
Incident à l’atterrissage à Stephenville (Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador) en 2018 : une fuite de liquide hydraulique en cause
Read the news release
Deployment notice
TSB will be deploying an investigator to an aircraft accident at the Stephenville Airport, Newfoundland and Labrador
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, 15 November 2018 — The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) will deploying an investigator tomorrow morning to the site of an aircraft accident that occurred today at the Stephenville Airport, Newfoundland and Labrador. The TSB will gather information and assess the occurrence.
Investigation information
A18A0088
Landing with partially extended landing gear
PAL Airlines Ltd.
Bombardier DHC-8-315, C-FPAE
Stephenville, Newfoundland and Labrador
Investigator-in-charge
Murray Hamm joined the TSB in 2010 as a Regional Senior Technical Investigator in the Air Investigations Branch at the Dartmouth office, Nova Scotia. Prior to that, he worked as a contracted employee for the 3 Canadian Forces Flying Training School (3 CFFTS) at the Southport Aerospace Centre located near Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, and held the position of Fixed Wing Chief Engineer.
Mr. Hamm has more than 25 years of aviation experience working for several fixed wing and rotary wing operations as a licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineer. He has also enjoyed recreational flying as a private pilot, and as a glider student pilot.
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Class of investigation
This is a class 3 investigation. These investigations analyze a small number of safety issues, and may result in recommendations. Class 3 investigations are generally completed within 450 days. For more information, see the Policy on Occurrence Classification.
TSB investigation process
There are 3 phases to a TSB investigation
- Field phase: a team of investigators examines the occurrence site and wreckage, interviews witnesses and collects pertinent information.
- Examination and analysis phase: the TSB reviews pertinent records, tests components of the wreckage in the lab, determines the sequence of events and identifies safety deficiencies. When safety deficiencies are suspected or confirmed, the TSB advises the appropriate authority without waiting until publication of the final report.
- Report phase: a confidential draft report is approved by the Board and sent to persons and corporations who are directly concerned by the report. They then have the opportunity to dispute or correct information they believe to be incorrect. The Board considers all representations before approving the final report, which is subsequently released to the public.
For more information, see our Investigation process page.
The TSB is an independent agency that investigates air, marine, pipeline, and rail transportation occurrences. Its sole aim is the advancement of transportation safety. It is not the function of the Board to assign fault or determine civil or criminal liability.