The initial investigation into why a Lufthansa Boeing 787-9 experienced a nose gear collapse at 
Frankfurt Airport (FRA) on June 4 has revealed that the downlock pin was missing. This resulted in the sudden collapse of the front of the plane, as it plummeted to the ground while being prepared at the gate for a flight to Los Angeles.
The interim report conducted by Bundesstelle für Flugunfalluntersuchung (German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation) suggests that the two technicians were sitting in the pilot’s seat to conduct testing when the nose gear landing gear collapsed. During the test, the landing gear level should have been set to the ‘UP’ position.
Nose Landing Gear Retracted And The Plane Hit The Ground
At approximately 10:45 UTC, the landing gear lever had been activated, which resulted in the landing gear retracting and the Dreamliner’s nose impacting the ground. This saw the cockpit door slam shut, and power and lighting on the aircraft went out. Consequently, the BFU consulted with the airport operator Fraport and other individual companies involved in the incident.
All up, a total of 34 individuals were identified as part of the investigation, which included 28 who were onboard the aircraft at the time. An additional five ground handling service members were outside the plane on the apron, and this included one technician who was at the nose of the landing gear. Two individuals were taken to hospital with serious injuries, while another 21 were treated on the scene for minor injuries.
This sequence of maintenance actions, which resulted in the incident, raises questions as to the adherence to established maintenance procedures and checklists, and why the safety pin had been omitted.
Damage To The Boeing 787-9 At Frankfurt Gate A15
The incident occurred at Frankfurt gate A15, and at the time, the airbridges on doors 1L and 2L were still pulled up. Shortly after it occurred, the airport fire brigade attended to the aircraft, restored power, and removed 66 tons (60,000 kg) of fuel. The plane was then lifted up with an air cushion under its nose, lifting hte plane 6.5 feet (2 m) in height.
Once the plane’s nose was lifted, the nose landing gear extended on its own and locked into place. At this time, the BFU was able to identify that the landing gear downlock pin was not inserted into the designated hole and had not been in the vicinity of the nose landing gear itself.
Subsequently, the flight to 
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) operating as LH450 was cancelled, and affected passengers were rebooked onto a replacement flight. The aircraft has previously arrived from an overnight service from Austin Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) before being parked at the gate.
Aircraft Involved: D-ABPQ
The plane involved was relatively new, having only been delivered to Lufthansa on January 17. Carrying the nickname Herne, it has since been removed from service and will undergo repair. It holds the German registration D-ABPQ and serial number (MSN) 66827. When in operation, it can carry a total of 287 passengers across three classes, including 28 in business, 28 in premium economy, and 231 in economy.
A nose gear collapse typically triggers critical safety investigations as these can cause structural damage, risk of injury for crew and ground staff, and can heavily impact the avionics bay of the plane. In this incident at Frankfurt, the investigation was able to identify the maintenance mistakes that resulted in the failure to properly insert the downlock safety pin. For many onlookers in the terminal, the bird’s-eye view of the incident quickly circulated on social media.
In these interim investigation findings, the aircraft impacted the concrete below with both its nose and engine cowlings while being prepared for the long-range flight to the United States. The plane, which is now being repaired for substantial damage, will likely remain out of service for many months.
