Bombardier 'disappointed' SAS grounding Q400s

Canada's Bombardier says it's "disappointed" Scandinavian Airlines has stopped flying its Q400 turboprops after a recent crash, noting that an investigation into the incident is still underway.

The SAS-operated Q400, carrying 44 people, crash-landed Saturday in Denmark after a landing gear collapse.

No one was seriously injured, but on Sunday SAS said it would no longer use the aircraft.

"We feel that there is no confidence in this particular aircraft type among our travelling public," Hans Ollengren, a senior vice president at SAS, told CTV News.

The Q400 accounts for about five per cent of the airline's passenger load.

Bombardier, based in Montreal, has recommended that airline companies continue to fly the Q400.

"We did an internal investigation that confirmed there was no systemic problem with the landing gear of the Q400," Bombardier's Marc Duchesne told CTV News.

Earlier on Sunday, Bombardier released a statement saying it was "disappointed" by the decision made by SAS, "given that the (latest) landing incident is still under investigation by Danish authorities."

Bombardier spokesperson John Arnone also told The Canadian Press that there have been three incidents involving the main landing gear since 2000, when the Q400 first went into commercial service, and all of them happened with SAS.

The airline had grounded its 27-plane Q400 fleet for three weeks after the first accidents occurred in early September.

SAS resumed flights earlier this month after replacing some landing gear parts.

The company has indicated it will seek US$78.25 million in compensation from Bombardier for costs and lost incomes.

Bombardier lists 22 companies as using the Q400, including Canada's Porter Airlines.

With files from The Canadian Press and The Associated Press

Comments are now closed for this story

mike
said

Where is the air transport authority on this one?

We recall toys with too much lead and even recall tires when they occasionally blow out. But we don't ground aircraft when the landing gear fail?

Are they waiting for someone to die first?

Kellerman
said

One premature conclusion of the fact that SAS has been involved in the majority of incidents inolving the landing gear would be that it is SAS that has problems with maintenance, as suggested by some commentators here.

Another, likewise premature conclusion would hold that since SAS was the first operator of this particular type, it would also be the first airliner to experience any problems due to poorly estimated maintenance cycles provided for by Bombardier. So by all means, let us speculate! But let's try to consider all circumstances. Or just wait for the report from the investigation.

Jay
said

There have been ongoing issues between SAS and Bombardier. This is not the first, a few years ago SAS had other issues with maintenance and their Q400. I would bet like posted above that the problem is with SAS maintenance and not the Q400. Constant problems with one company can almost always be attributed to that company. Although it's too early to tell as the investigations are still ongoing I have no doubt the Q400 and Bombardier will be cleared of any wrong doing.

As for ANA in Japan it was determined very early in the investigation that a pin in the nose gear was either missing or improperly installed (poor maintenance).

By the way, the landing gear in the Q400 is made by BF Goodrich.

Kurt Karlemon
said

I have also been flying with these type of planes here in Canada. But it doesn't look like it's exactly the same model. SAS was told by Bombardier that they have checked and fixed all the problems but then this happend. And other airlines also experienced similar problems. Bombardier have for a long time survived only with help from tax payers. Maybe it's time to stop that.

Bob from Montreal
said

There are many other airlines flying this aircraft and only a few incidents with them.

I have a feeling that the problem lies in SAS not the aircraft. Either they just do not like the aircraft and are willing to do anything to stop flying them or their maintenance is very lacking.

As far as poorly translated manuals, most airline manuals are in English so that is not the problem.

If the aircraft were at fault, there would be problems with all of the airlines flying them and this is not so.

Michael
said

Smells like something is fishy in Denmark to me!

Bombardier I believe buys these landing gears from a supplier. SAS is within their right to ground their aircraft but I would be hesitant to throw blame around without proper evidence which they don't have at present.

A. Hansen
said

Scandinavian airlines SAS is to permanently stop flying Bombardier Dash 8 Q400, personally as a frequent flyer with this airline I would hate to see its "good reputation" be questioned. SAS has always enjoyed an excellent reputation and if they continue to use the Dash 8-400 it could eventually damage the SAS representation.
And fellow Danes, will certainly not miss this aircraft. Confidence in this aircraft has been non existent for a long time here in Denmark. If an aircraft isn�t designed to withstand basic landings then the aircraft shouldn�t be in the air. SAS grounded this type for weeks back in September and lost billions in revenue, just to hold faith in this aircraft, but obviously it didn�t help. Wise move SAS.

Regards
A. Hansen. Copenhagen, Danmark.

mo
said

Too bad. I don't want to see them have the same ending like concord.

Kim
said

I find it comical that there are hundreds of these aircraft flying all over the world with dozens of airlines and the only 3 reported incidents of collapsing landing gear are with the same airline. It does not take a genius to figure out where the problem is. I think SAS�s problems are either the pilots are dropping the planes too hard on the runway, someone is not properly maintaining the aircraft, or sabotage by a mechanic.

Dave
said

Jazz doesn't operate the -400 series, only the -100 and -300's. It's very unfortunate for this to happen. All Nippon has had issues with theirs as well in the past.

Nathan
said

Curious that this particular airline has been plagued with the same incident in such a short amount of time. Sounds like that Bombardier has an issue with poorly translated manuals, or SAS has issues with their maintenance department. It is interesting that Air Canada Jazz flies a substantial, busy fleet of the same aircraft without incident.

Rob
said

I fly them all the time... not a bad little plane...sounds to me like a typical airline move to place the blame elsewhere.... landing gears don't malfunction unless they aren't maintained properly. This problem is straight out of Scandinavian's Hangar

Chris Charland
said

I was at an aerospace symposium a week ago and listened to the people from Porter Airlines sing the praises of the aircraft.
They have more on order but say they can not get them soon enough.

kevin
said

Thankfully no one was injured. This is the 3rd incident I have seen in the last 6 months or so.

I regularly fly on the Q400, and I like the plane. Noise level is comparable to bigger jets - or better depending on seating, and lots of leg room on Horizon planes.

I hope they can get this problem repaired soon, or our darling Bombardier, will find itself in a world of hurt.

...Unfortunately, our tax dollars working at their finest :(

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