A new YouTube video has surfaced showing a Qantas Airways Airbus A380-800 suffering a Nose Steering Fault Issue on take off at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport.
As the aircraft, operating Flight QF11 between Sydney and Los Angeles, enters runway 34L and begins to accelerate into her take off roll, the nose gear suddenly and unexpectedly turns 90 degrees to the right. The huge aircraft veers dramatically to the right, as smoke starts to rise from the tyres. The crew then turn the gear 180 degrees to the left allowing the aircraft to recover whilst seemingly resolving the malfunction.
Interestingly, after spending about 2 minutes on the runway and causing an approaching Jetstar flight to go around, the Qantas A380 begins another take off attempt and successfully lifts off bound for LA.
The video was recorded by YouTube user dgkiwi1 on the 18 May 2012.
It's not the first time such problems have arisen. In February 2012, a Singapore bound Qantas A380 was forced to abandon two take off attempts at London Heathrow Airport due to similar problems with the Nose Landing Gear. The A380 was returned to the gate (by tug) each time for maintenance personnel to resolve the problem. On this occasion, Qantas felt it necessary to dismiss passenger tweets that the aircraft had veered onto the grass.
I myself have filmed a Qantas A380 experiencing Nose Gear Steering Problems back in July 2009. In my video the Qantas A380 (VH-OQA) is on approach to Runway 27L when the crew report a steering malfunction. The aircraft performs a go around before eventually landing safely. The aircraft was subsequently towed to the gate.
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