News release

Undetected damage led to 2021 landing gear failure in Montréal, Quebec

Dorval, Quebec, 4 October 2023 — Today, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) released its investigation report (A21Q0138) into the 25 December 2021 occurrence in which an Air Canada Airbus A330-343’s right main landing gear collapsed upon touchdown at the Montréal/Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport.

The investigation determined that a pre-existing condition led to the landing gear failure. Upon landing, one of two cracks that emanated from a previously undetected area of overheating spread rapidly and resulted in the bogie beam (a structural element that connects an assembly of two or more wheels to the same shock strut on the landing gear) breaking into several pieces. No longer supported by the wheels, the shock strut dragged along the runway until the aircraft came to a rest.

A review of past occurrences revealed that, on 17 December 2021, while the Airbus aircraft was taxiing for takeoff, one of the bearings on the right main landing gear seized, causing localized overheating. The procedures in place at the time of the incident allowed for the replacement of the affected parts without a thorough damage assessment. The aircraft was then returned to service, despite the presence of undetected damage to the landing gear.

Following this occurrence Airbus modified the A330 maintenance manual, requesting that operators contact them if damage to the landing gear bogie beam or bushings is discovered.

See the investigation page for more information.