News release

In its investigation report (A14O0178) released today, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) found that a malfunctioning landing gear system led to the September 2014 landing accident at Timmins Victor M. Power Airport in Timmins, Ontario. The aircraft was substantially damaged but there was no post-impact fire, and no injuries to the occupants.

On 26 September 2014, at 1740 Eastern Daylight Time, a Beechcraft King Air A100 was operating as Air Creebec flight 140 on a scheduled flight from Moosonee, Ontario, to Timmins, Ontario, with two crew members and seven passengers on board. While on approach to Timmins, the crew selected the landing gear down, but did not get an indication light that the landing gear was down and locked. A fly-by at the airport provided visual confirmation that the landing gear was not fully extended. The crew attempted to lower the landing gear manually but was unable to do so. At approximately the same time, indicators illuminated to indicate that both the generators were not functioning. An emergency was declared, and the aircraft landed with only the nose gear partially extended. The aircraft came to rest beyond the end of Runway 28.

The investigation revealed that during the extension of the landing gear, a wire bundle became entangled around the landing gear rotating torque shaft, preventing full extension. The entanglement also prevented the alternate landing gear extension system from working. The investigation also determined that the wire bundle consisted of wiring for the generator control circuits, and when damaged, disabled both generators.

Following the occurrence, Air Creebec performed its own safety management system investigation and performed inspections on its two other Beechcraft King Air A100 aircraft, and found no faults. The operator submitted a safety deficiency report to Transport Canada, and also issued a maintenance advisory to its staff to check for proximity of wiring harnesses to surrounding rotating parts. In addition, Air Creebec contacted other operators with the same type of aircraft and made them aware of the potential for this type of event.