What happened
On June 8, 2024, a Cessna 152, registration 4R-ACV, operated by Asian Aviation Center, experienced a hard landing on Runway 22 at Colombo International Airport, Ratmalana. The aircraft was conducting a stage check flight with a student pilot and a flight instructor on board. During the final phase of the landing, the aircraft experienced a sudden sink and subsequently bounced before a second touchdown. The impact was severe enough to cause significant structural damage to the aircraft's nose gear assembly and engine mounts.
The investigation
The Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka conducted an investigation to determine the cause of the incident and evaluate the safety culture of the training organization. Investigators examined the aircraft's physical damage, maintenance records, and interviewed various personnel, including the flight instructor, student pilot, and maintenance staff.
The inquiry focused on the mechanical state of the nose landing gear, the accuracy of the flight instructor's technical log entries, and the communication flow between the flight crew and the engineering department following the event. The investigation also scrutinized the maintenance practices regarding the nose landing gear's pneumatic pressure.
Findings
Physical inspection of the Cessna 152 revealed extensive damage, including a bent engine mount frame, a deformed nose landing gear oleo strut, and distorted torque links. The impact caused the engine mounting bolt holes to enlarge and resulted in skin wrinkling near the rudder mounting area, which restricted rudder movement.
Several critical contributing factors were identified:
- The flight instructor's inability to control the aircraft during the final stage of the landing.
- A failure to maintain the nose landing gear strut, as the oleo-to-air ratio was incorrect and the strut pressure was at zero.
- Significant lapses in the organization's safety reporting culture, including a failure by the engineering manager to notify certifying staff of the incident.
- Contradictory statements regarding whether a technical log entry was made or communicated to the maintenance team.
- Inadequate post-hard landing procedures and a lack of awareness regarding the aircraft's unserviceable status among other flight personnel.