What happened
On July 24, 2015, a Cessna 177A, registration LN-TST, was returning to Rakkestad Airport Åstorp (ENRK) following a two-hour private flight. During the approach to runway 33, the pilot attempted an initial landing, but the aircraft bounced upon contact. The pilot aborted the first attempt and initiated a second approach to the same runway.
During the second landing attempt, the aircraft bounced again. Upon subsequent contact with the runway, the nose gear strut failed. The propeller struck the runway surface as the aircraft slid along the pavement. The aircraft came to a halt approximately 15 meters before the first taxiway exit. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained no injuries.
Airport surveillance footage captured the event, showing the aircraft landing on the runway before lifting into the air again at a low altitude of approximately 50 to 100 meters. At an altitude of roughly 1 to 2 meters, the left wing dropped, and the aircraft struck the runway with a low nose attitude, leading to the structural damage.
The investigation
The Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority (NSIA) examined the aircraft, the runway conditions, and the pilot's actions. The investigation noted that the pilot had flown over the airfield prior to landing to observe the windsock, noting that the wind was so light it was difficult to determine the direction. Consequently, the choice of runway 33 was not strictly dictated by wind conditions.
The investigation also reviewed the physical characteristics of runway 33, which is 1,080 meters long and 18 meters wide, featuring a 1.9% negative slope. The investigators noted that the surrounding high terrain to the southwest can generate downdrafts and turbulent air near the runway threshold when winds originate from the west or southwest.
Findings
- There were no technical failures identified in the aircraft's systems.
- The nose gear failure was caused by structural overload.
- The investigation highlighted a pattern of landing accidents at Rakkestad, noting seven accidents at the site since 2000, suggesting that runway slope and local wind conditions may present challenges that pilots might not sufficiently account for.
- The investigation noted that similar nose gear failures in Cessna aircraft often result from hard landings followed by bouncing.