Investigation Summary
Shortly after departing Newark, the crew received a center hydraulic system failure warning caused by a leak in a flexible hose. Because the center system powers the primary landing gear extension, the crew anticipated using the electric alternate extension system upon arrival in Warsaw. However, when they attempted to deploy the gear for landing, the alternate system also failed to respond. Two Polish Air Force F-16s intercepted the flight and confirmed that all landing gear doors remained closed. The crew circled for over an hour to burn fuel while ground crews prepared the runway with fire suppression foam. After the landing, investigators discovered that the C829 circuit breaker, which protects the alternate landing gear extension system, was in the 'popped' (open) position. When this breaker was reset during recovery, the landing gear extended normally using the alternate system.
Final Conclusions
The SCAAI final report (SCAAI-1400/2011) concluded the accident was caused by a combination of a mechanical failure and crew oversight. The primary failure was a leak in the center hydraulic system hose due to excessive bending. The secondary failure was the open C829 circuit breaker, which prevented the alternate extension system from functioning. The crew failed to detect the open breaker during their emergency checklists, partly because its low position on the P6-1 panel made it difficult to see and susceptible to being accidentally bumped into the open position. The report also cited LOT's failure to implement a Boeing service bulletin regarding the hydraulic hose and inadequate procedures at the airline's operations center.
Photographic Evidence (1)
Video Analysis
Boeing 767 BELLY LANDING! What happened?! | Polish LOT Flight 16 — A detailed breakdown of the hydraulic failure and the 'popped' circuit breaker that led to the dramatic belly landing of LOT Flight 16 in Warsaw.
If playback is blocked, the owner has disabled embedding — use the link above.
Airframe & Maintenance
Crew Experience
Captain
Total hours on Boeing 767; 25,000 total combined with First Officer.
Systems & Failure Modes
Center Hydraulic System
The primary system for landing gear extension and retraction; it failed due to a leak in a flexible hose.
Alternate Landing Gear Extension System
An electric system designed to release the gear uplocks in the event of hydraulic failure; it was rendered inoperative by a tripped C829 circuit breaker.
C829 Circuit Breaker
A breaker located on the P6-1 panel that protects the BAT BUS DISTR circuit, which powers the alternate gear extension motor.
Interesting Facts
- 01The aircraft had logged 85,429 airframe hours and 8,002 cycles at the time of the accident.
- 02The C829 circuit breaker was found in the 'popped' position immediately after the evacuation.
- 03The aircraft, named 'Poznań', was the 14th hull loss of a Boeing 767.
- 04The landing gear was successfully extended using the alternate system once the C829 breaker was reset on the ground.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Circuit Breaker Guards
The investigation noted that Boeing began installing guards on the P6-1 panel from production line 863 onwards to prevent accidental tripping; SP-LPC (line 659) did not have these guards.
Service Bulletin 767-32-0162
The report emphasized the importance of incorporating service bulletins related to hydraulic hose bending to prevent similar leaks.