Investigation Summary
The accident occurred during a domestic flight from Lima to Jauja. The destination, Francisco Carle Airport, is a high-altitude facility located at approximately 11,000 feet. On the day of the accident, NOTAM CO510/17 indicated that maintenance work was being performed on the runway, leaving only the right side available for operations. The landing was performed by the First Officer, who was in the process of qualifying for high-altitude airport operations. Upon touchdown at 16:40 local time, the aircraft experienced two significant impacts. The investigation by the Commission for the Investigation of Aviation Accidents (CIAA) revealed that the shimmy damper systems on both main landing gear struts failed to function within required tolerances. This led to lateral oscillations and vibrations that exceeded the structural limits of the gear, resulting in the fracture and collapse of the struts. As the aircraft slid, the starboard wing breached the airport's perimeter fence, leading to a fire. The evacuation was successful despite the rapid spread of the fire, which eventually consumed the aircraft.
Final Conclusions
The CIAA released its final report in November 2020, concluding that the primary cause was the mechanical failure of the shimmy damper kinematic system components. These components were outside of tolerance limits, preventing the dampening of lateral wheel oscillations. Contributing factors included missing or incorrect measurement data in the Aircraft Maintenance Manuals provided to Peruvian Airlines, which hindered the timely detection of worn components. Additionally, the investigation noted that Boeing service letters regarding torsion link fractures were not mandatory and were potentially confusing to interpret.
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Airframe & Maintenance
Systems & Failure Modes
Shimmy Damper
A hydraulic device designed to dampen rapid oscillations of the landing gear wheels. Failure of this system allowed lateral vibrations to reach destructive levels.
Main Landing Gear (MLG) Torsion Links
Mechanical components that maintain wheel alignment; the investigation cited Boeing service letters regarding fractures in these specific parts.
Interesting Facts
- 01The aircraft was a Boeing 737-300 originally delivered to AirAsia in 1991.
- 02The shimmy damper system failure caused lateral oscillations that fractured the main gear struts.
- 03Thirty-nine people were injured, including two with broken bones and three with concussions, despite initial airline statements claiming no injuries.
- 04The aircraft was completely destroyed by the post-crash fire.
- 05The Jauja Criminal Prosecutor's Office opened a parallel investigation into the incident.
- 06At the time of landing, only the right side of the runway was available due to maintenance work (NOTAM CO510/17).
Safety Actions & Advisories
Maintenance Manual Review
The investigation recommended updating Aircraft Maintenance Manuals (AMM) to include specific measurement data for shimmy damper components to ensure timely replacement.
Service Letter Clarification
Investigators highlighted the need for clearer, more mandatory language in Boeing service letters regarding Main Landing Gear Lower Torsion Link Fractures.