NTSB Focuses on Mechanical Failure in Charlotte Nose Landing

A fractured lock link was sent to the NTSB materials laboratory for examination.

Meg Godlewski

Wednesday, July 12, 2023 at 04:39 PM ET

Verified

View of airplane in final resting position. Photo provided by FAA. [Courtesy: NTSB]

Key Takeaways:

A Delta Air Lines Boeing 717 landed on its nose in Charlotte after a mechanical failure prevented the deployment of its nose landing gear.
Preliminary NTSB findings indicate a fractured upper lock link in the nose gear assembly as the likely cause of the non-deployment.
The flight crew made multiple attempts at electronic and manual gear extensions and declared an emergency before performing a controlled landing.
All 99 passengers and five crew members were uninjured, and the NTSB's investigation, including examination of the fractured part and flight recorders, is ongoing.

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Mechanical part failure of a Boeing 717’s nose gear assembly may have prevented its deployment, leading a Delta Air Lines flight to land on its nose last month in Charlotte, according to accident investors.

The June 28 incident occurred at 8:58 a.m. as the crew of the Boeing 717 was preparing for landing at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (KCLT), according to preliminary information from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The aircraft was about 2,000 feet agl when the first officer lowered the landing gear handle and the nosewheel unsafe condition light illuminated.