ANN is checking into the details surrounding an SAS Bombardier "Dash 8" Q400 that experienced an asymmetric gear deployment followed by an accident in which the aircraft was forced to land with a main gear undeployed.

Scandinavian airline, SAS AB, is undergoing its second fleet-wide Dash 8-Q400 grounding order following the partial gear-up landing that took place, Saturday, at the Copenhagen airport with Flight SK 2867. The aircraft undertook an emergency landing at 1655 local time, with crash-rescue trucks called out in advance of the touchdown by a flight crew that alerted the tower to their situation. The runway was foamed for the partial-gear touchdown and no serious injuries were reported.

The incident occurred barely six weeks after two similar accidents prompted a temporary grounding of the aircraft. SAS grounded its full fleet of 27 Dash 8 Q400 turboprops on Sept. 12 after landing gear failed to fully deploy twice in just four days, causing damage to each airframe. The fleet was phased back into service starting on Oct. 4th.

Official SAS Scandinavian Airlines Statement:

Scandinavian Airlines regrets to confirm that one of its aircraft, a Dash 8- 400 with registration number LN-RDI and flight number SK 2867 from Bergen to Copenhagen was involved in an accident at Copenhagen airport , at 16.55 hrs local time today.

We can confirm that there were 38 passengers and 2 infants and 4 crew members onboard.

Prior to the accident problems with the main landing gear was reported.

All Dash 8-400 aircraft within the SAS Group will be grounded until further notice.

SAS is doing everything possible to assist all passengers. SAS will provide further information as soon as it becomes available.

Official Bombardier Statement On SAS Groundings of Dash 8 Series Aircraft:

Bombardier confirms that a Bombardier Q400 aircraft S/N 4024 registration number LN-RDI operating as flight SK2867 from Bergen to Copenhagen, was involved in an incident at Copenhagen Airport at 16:55 local time on October 27, 2007. There were no reported injuries to the 40 passengers and 4 crew members on board.

According to preliminary information, the incident involved the main right hand landing gear, which failed to fully extend for landing. There appears to be no relationship between this incident and previous SAS Q400 main landing gear incidents. While SAS has decided to ground their Q400 fleet until further notice, Bombardier has advised all Q400 operators via an All Operator Message (AOM) of this incident but is not recommending changes to their normal on-going Q400 flight operations.

Bombardier is cooperating fully with SAS and the investigating aviation authorities and has dispatched a product safety and technical team to the site to fully support and assist in the investigation. Until such time as the authorities release any information or findings, Bombardier cannot comment further or speculate on the potential cause of this incident.

FMI: www.flysas.com,  www.bombardier.com