What happened
On March 13, 2005, a Morane-Saulnier MS 893A, registration D-EKCD, was performing a local training flight from Águeda Aerodrome. The flight involved a pilot and two passengers. During the landing phase on runway 32, the pilot performed a slightly high approach to ensure clearance over tall eucalyptus trees located at the runway ends. To correct the glide path, the pilot increased the rate of descent, which resulted in a higher approach speed and a long landing.
Upon touchdown, the pilot felt intense vibrations in the nose gear and attempted to relieve pressure on the wheel by pulling back on the control column. However, the nose gear strut failed, causing the nose of the aircraft to make contact with the pavement. The aircraft slid for approximately 45 meters along the runway, causing damage to the propeller and the cockpit floor, before coming to a stop near the end of the runway. All three occupants escaped without injury.
The investigation
The GPIAAF examined the structural integrity of the nose gear assembly and the flight history of the aircraft. Investigators analyzed the fracture point on the nose gear strut, discovering evidence of both old and recent metal fatigue. The fracture showed darkened areas indicating an older break, alongside bright, recent metal tearing.
Records indicated that six months prior, the same aircraft had been involved in a separate incident where the nose gear struck a small tree. While investigators could not definitively prove if that specific event initiated the crack, they noted the current failure was an extension of an existing structural weakness. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's credentials, finding them valid and the aircraft's maintenance logs to be up to date.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the collapse of the nose gear due to material fatigue in the central support.
- The existing fracture in the strut was exacerbated by the high-speed, long landing and the subsequent heavy braking required at the end of the runway.
- The pilot's decision to fly a higher approach to clear obstacles led to an increased descent rate and higher landing speed, contributing to the stress on the weakened component.
- The aircraft's nose gear assembly contained a pre-existing structural crack of undetermined origin, which may have resulted from a previous accident or cumulative landing stresses.