Air Afrique Airbus A300B4-203 plane crash

The Air Afrique Airbus A300 was preparing to depart Dakar-Yoff Airport for a passenger flight to Paris. During taxi before takeoff, a warning indicated that the left main landing gear was not properly locked. The crew discontinued the departure and began taxiing back toward the parking area.

During the return taxi, the left main landing gear retracted. The left engine and wing contacted the ground and a fire developed. The evacuation allowed all occupants to leave the aircraft. The Airbus was severely damaged and was not returned to service.

Investigation findings

The investigation conducted in Senegal identified a defect in the circuit controlling the locking of the left main landing gear: a flexible connection had been incorrectly crossed/reversed, causing improper operation of the locking mechanism and the unintended retraction of the gear. The accident therefore originated in an incorrect configuration of the landing-gear control system associated with maintenance work, rather than in a spontaneous structural failure of the landing gear.