The WestJet Boeing 737-800 that suffered a right main gear collapse on landing at Sint Maarten three months ago flew back home on Friday, giving a slight wing wag as it tucked up the gear normally for the five-hour flight to Toronto. As we reported in September the aircraft listed to the right after touching down firmly, but within normal limits, on a gusty day on the Caribbean island. It was widely reported (including by us) that it was a hard landing, but investigators said the flight data recorder showed the landing was within normal parameters and they found a broken trunnion pin in the right gear mechanism.
The airport authority used an old flatbed truck to support the wing to move it from the runway and it was taken to a ramp where the damage, which looked pretty serious, was assessed. The gear structure pushed through the top skin of the wing. The airline and insurance company decided to repair it in place, and it was able to fly to Canada normally. It’s not clear if there’s more work to be done to put the plane back into service
