Inspection Detail

Inspection: 303694806 - Transnorthern Aviation

Inspection Information - Office: Alaska Department Of Labor Osh Enforcement

Investigation Summary

On November 30, 2000, Employee #1, a mechanic for Transnorthern Aviation, Incorporated, was killed when he was crushed under the wings and landing gear of a plane. The Model Number of the plane was 99. His wife found him dead 1:15 a.m. still under the wing of the aircraft. The fire department and paramedics were called, but Employee #1 at this point had been dead for several hours. Employee #1 had been working on a landing gear problem earlier in the day and had the plane up on wing jacks. He called his employer around 7:00 p.m. to inform his employer that he had replaced some parts on the plane from another Model Number 99 that was in the hanger. He informed his employer the job was done but "it didn't look right", and he was going to take the plane off the wing jacks. The owner told him "they would look at it later and he should go home". He, for some unknown reason, apparently sat down behind the right landing gear. It is not clear whether he was just looking or maybe he was touching the landing gear. The down lock hook which may not have been in a fully down position would have been carrying the weight of the plane instead of the position rods. A portion of the down lock hook broke off allowing the stored energy (gravity) to release and the gear retracted instantly causing the wing to come down on top of Employee #1's back forcing his head down to his feet.

Keywords: FRACTURE, CRUSHED