Investigation Summary
The accident was initiated by the failure of a flexible hydraulic retraction hose on the left main landing gear down-lock actuator. This failure led to a total loss of fluid in the left hydraulic system, which in turn disabled the autobrakes, the left engine thrust reverser, and nose wheel steering. During the emergency landing, the crew had to rely on manual braking and the right engine's thrust reverser. As the aircraft decelerated, a combination of asymmetric braking and an inadvertent synchronized movement of the engine levers, attributed to pilot muscle memory under stress, caused the aircraft to veer sharply to the right. The aircraft exited the runway surface, struck an airport perimeter fence, and fell into a rainwater collection slope, which caused the rear fuselage to snap.
Final Conclusions
The investigation by DGAC Costa Rica concluded that the primary cause was the fatigue and stress failure of individual wires in the flexible hydraulic hose of the left main landing gear. A significant contributing factor was the crew's inadvertent movement of the left engine control thrust lever while attempting to deploy the right thrust reverser, a muscle memory error that exacerbated the directional control difficulties during the high-stress emergency landing.
Photographic Evidence (1)
Video Analysis
Split in Half | DHL de Guatemala Flight 7216 — A detailed look at the hydraulic failure and subsequent runway excursion of DHL Flight 7216 in Costa Rica.
If playback is blocked, the owner has disabled embedding — use the link above.
Airframe & Maintenance
Crew Experience
Captain
First Officer
Systems & Failure Modes
Left Hydraulic System
Failed due to a ruptured hose, disabling the left thrust reverser, nose wheel steering, and autobrakes.
Thrust Reversers
Only the right reverser was functional; asymmetric reverse thrust contributed to the directional control issues.
Landing Gear Down-lock Actuator
The site of the initial hydraulic hose failure due to wire fatigue.
Interesting Facts
- 01The aircraft was 22 years old and had been converted from a passenger configuration to a freighter in 2010.
- 02The left hydraulic system failure resulted in the loss of the left thrust reverser and nose wheel steering.
- 03The aircraft came to rest facing the opposite direction of its landing heading.
- 04Both pilots evacuated the wreckage via the cockpit window using escape ropes.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Hydraulic Hose Inspection
The investigation highlighted the need for rigorous inspection of flexible hydraulic hoses for wire fatigue, especially in high-stress areas like the landing gear actuators.