Colombian investigators have revealed that both main landing-gear of a Boeing 737-400 freighter were found to be badly out of alignment after a serious landing incident in Bogota.
The aircraft (HK-5139), operating a domestic service from Leticia, had landed on runway 13R in darkness on 9 November last year.
Colombian investigation authority GRIAA says the AerCaribe aircraft stopped on the runway adjacent to taxiway P, which is located some 3,200m from the threshold.
None of the seven occupants of the 26-year old twinjet was injured, it adds. The 737 had flown from Bogota to Leticia, without incident, a few hours before.
Investigators state that the return landing at Bogota had resulted in "normal" contact with the runway but, during deceleration, a "strong" vibration was felt which "progressively increased".
The aircraft's landing-gear had been affected, and control on the ground became "impossible", the inquiry adds.
It states that the aircraft made a 170° left turn before it came to a halt, pointing north-west, at a distance 3,161m from the threshold of 13R.
GRIAA says marks on the runway indicated both sets of main landing-gear had been "zig-zagging", and were found to be considerably misaligned – the left-hand gear was twisted 55° to the right while the right-hand was 43° right.
Both tyres on each set of main gear were either worn or had burst.
Inspection of the runway did not detect any foreign debris or components which might have contributed to the incident, nor was there a record of any system malfunction or damage relating to the landing-gear misalignment.
GRIAA has yet to reach any conclusions about the event but states it is collecting maintenance and operational data about the aircraft.
AerCaribe was subsequently involved in another landing accident, at Leticia, less than three months later when another 737-400 freighter (HK-5197) left the runway after touchdown on 28 January this year. Investigators have yet to detail any findings.
Source: Cirium Dashboard
