ASN Aircraft accident Boeing 737-59D G-BVKC Cardiff-Wales Airport (CWL)
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Status:Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Date:Saturday 21 February 2004
Time:23:00
Type:Silhouette image of generic B735 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different
Boeing 737-59D
Operator:bmibaby
Registration: G-BVKC
MSN: 24695/1872
First flight: 1990-06-01 (13 years 9 months)
Total airframe hrs:31210
Cycles:33633
Engines: 2 CFMI CFM56-3C1
Crew:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 6
Passengers:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 114
Total:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 120
Aircraft damage: Substantial
Aircraft fate: Repaired
Location:Cardiff-Wales Airport (CWL) (   United Kingdom)
Phase: Landing (LDG)
Nature:International Scheduled Passenger
Departure airport:Málaga Airport (AGP/LEMG), Spain
Destination airport:Cardiff-Wales Airport (CWL/EGFF), United Kingdom
Narrative:
The left main landing gear (MLG) began a violent shimmy (yaw oscillation) when the wheelbrakes were applied after a normal landing touchdown, probably damaging the MLG lower torsion link. The shimmying stopped when braking was reduced but restarted when braking was increased, causing the torsion link to fracture. Further higher amplitude shimmying of the left MLG ensued, resulting in severe MLG tyre, wheel and brake damage and substantial oscillatory loads on the aircraft structure. Steering difficulties were experienced during both shimmying episodes.
It was likely that the shimmying resulted from excessive wear of the torsion link apex joint that reduced the effectiveness of the shimmy damper. Maintenance records indicated that the MLG had been maintained in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations, but it was considered that relevant Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM) procedures could be difficult to
follow.

Accident investigation:

cover
Investigating agency: AAIB (U.K.)
Status: Investigation completed
Duration: 1 year and 1 months
Accident number: EW/C2004/02/03
Download report: Summary report

Classification:
Runway mishap

Sources:
» AAIB Bulletin 4/2005


Follow-up / safety actions

AAIB issued 1 Safety Recommendation

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Photos

photo of Boeing-737-59D-
Boeing 737 main gear torsion links
photo of Boeing-737-59D-G-BVKC
accident date: 21-02-2004
type: Boeing 737-59D
registration: G-BVKC
 

Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Málaga Airport to Cardiff-Wales Airport as the crow flies is 1629 km (1018 miles).

This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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