Icelandair makes legal claim against Kelowna company for landing gear collapse

Kelowna company KF Aerospace is being sued by operator Icelandair following the collapse of an undercarriage on one of its planes two years ago.

The incident happened a month after the airline got the plane back from KF Aerospace following maintenance work.

The airline claims the company was negligent, alleging it used an incorrect nut in attaching the main landing gear to the Boeing 757-200.

KF Aerospace has yet to file a response in court and said its insurers are currently looking into the allegations.

In documents filed in B.C. Supreme Court on Feb. 4, Icelandair claims Kelowna Flightcraft Ltd., which conducts business as KF Aerospace, was negligent in using a nut that was supposed to only be used for the safe transportation of the landing gear from a specialist landing gear maintenance firm in Florida to Kelowna.

Icelandair claims Kelowna Flightcraft then used the incorrect and oversized subject nut in its installation of the main landing gear to fasten the side strut swivel in the lug position to the main landing gear shock strut.

On Feb. 7, 2020 the plane’s right-hand main landing gear collapsed on landing at Keflavik International Airport in Rejkjavik. There were 166 passengers and crew onboard. No one was injured but one of the plane’s engines was damaged as it struck the ground. Certain parts of the undercarriage that broke off were found close to the touchdown zone on the runway.

Icelandair is suing for the expenses of repairing the aircraft as well as lost revenue while the plane was out of commission.

The preliminary investigation by the Icelandic Transportation Safety Board, indicated the nut was too large for the swivel threads connecting it to the strut.

In a statement, KF Aerospace Chief Corporate Services Officer, Grant Stevens, said:

Icelandair is a valued client and KF Aerospace takes pride in providing exceptional service to Icelandair and all of its clients. KF Aerospace’s insurers are currently looking into the allegations made against it in the Notice of Civil Claim, but because this matter is now before the courts, it would not be appropriate for KF Aerospace to comment further publicly.