Incident Overview
On 1 September 2018 at 16:54 UTC, an Antonov An-2TD aircraft, registered SP-AOO, was conducting a landing approach at Cambrai-Niergnies Airport (LFYG) in France. The aircraft was operated by a private owner and was crewed by two professional pilots (citizens of Luxembourg) and one passenger.
Sequence of Events
The aircraft approached runway 08 with a configuration of 120 km/h and flaps set to 20°. Weather conditions were clear skies with wind approximately 6 knots from 060°. Touchdown occurred at 16:57 UTC at a speed of 85 km/h, approximately 100 meters past the western runway threshold. After landing, the aircraft began to drift left of the centerline, which the pilot corrected. Approximately 140–150 meters from the touchdown point, while on three wheels, the pilot initiated braking. The aircraft then pitched forward sharply, momentarily reaching an almost vertical attitude while also rolling to the left. This caused the lower left and upper left wingtips and the propeller to make violent contact with the runway surface, stopping the engine and damaging the propeller and airframe. The aircraft came to rest supported on the bent propeller with the rear fuselage elevated at an angle. The crew and passenger evacuated normally through the cabin door.
Damage
Examination of the runway revealed skid marks from the main landing gear wheels approximately 16–20 meters long and propeller blade impact marks over a distance of about 3.5 meters. Aircraft damage included a destroyed propeller, damaged leading edges of the left lower and left upper wingtips, and an engine requiring inspection after abrupt stoppage. No other damage or fluid leaks were found.
Probable Cause
The investigation determined the probable cause of the incident to be pilot error consisting of excessive use of the wheel brakes. Contributing factors included the aircraft's design with a high center of gravity, the low mass of the aircraft (only two crew and one passenger on board), and the pilot's limited experience on this type of aircraft.
Aftermath
The pilot notified the Bureau d'Enquêtes et d'Analyses pour la Sécurité de l'Aviation civile (BEA) and the aircraft owner, who then informed the Polish State Commission on Aircraft Accident Investigation (PKBWL). The BEA decided not to investigate. The PKBWL conducted a correspondence-based inquiry with the pilot, whose explanations were used in the final report. No safety recommendations were issued.