A U.S. Coast Guard C-130 landed safely at Kona International Airport Friday after a midair hydraulic failure led to the declaration of an emergency landing at 10:44 a.m. ADVERTISING A U.S. Coast Guard C-130 landed safely at Kona International Airport
A U.S. Coast Guard C-130 landed safely at Kona International Airport Friday after a midair hydraulic failure led to the declaration of an emergency landing at 10:44 a.m.
It was originally reported the landing gear would not come down, raising the possibility that the airplane would have to land on its belly, said FAA Southwest Region spokesman Lynn Lunsford.
Firefighters responded to the airport and watched the airplane come in for a landing with gear deployed.
Lunsford said there were no injuries reported.
The C-130 Hercules is a transport aircraft used for multiple missions, including dropping life rafts, dewatering pumps or dispersant for oil pollution control. On Friday, the airplane was being used to move equipment from Honolulu to the Big Island, said Lt. Scott Carr of the Coast Guard. When empty it weighs 37.9 tons and it can take off weighing up to 87.5 tons. The airplane is 99 feet, 7 inches long, 38 feet, 8 inches tall and has a wingspan of 132 feet, 7 inches.
The hydraulic system uses pressure to move parts of the airplane, including the brakes, landing gear and control surfaces.
The failure of this system made it difficult for the crew to deploy the flaps, Carr said. Flaps drop down from the rear of the wing and help slow an aircraft, particularly during landing.
The decision to declare an emergency and land in Kona was made because the airport has an 11,000-foot runway that provided more room for the plane to land, Carr said. The airplane used much of the length, coming to a stop in the southern third of the runway.
Carr confirmed there was no report of injuries, but was unable to provide the number of people on the Air Station Barbers Point-based C-130 at the time of the emergency.
The plane remained on the airport’s lone runway and was resulting in delays from its landing until about 1:20 p.m., when it moved off.
“We are sorry for the delay and inconvenience it’s causing users of the airport there,” Carr said. “We are trying to get it out and we are thankful that the crew landed safely.”
Emergency landings are practiced often by the crews, Carr said.
“That training paid off today,” he added.
West Hawaii Today Digital Content Editor Chelsea Jensen contributed to this story.
