What happened
On March 15, 2014, a Cessna 303 Crusader, registration N303W, was conducting a private flight from Cannes Mandelieu to Barcelonnette. The aircraft was carrying a pilot and four passengers. During the landing on runway 27, while configured with full flaps, the left main landing gear suffered a structural failure. This caused the aircraft to skid and veer off the left side of the runway, subsequently resulting in the collapse of the right main landing gear. The aircraft sustained heavy damage.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the physical evidence left on the runway and the technical state of the aircraft. Investigators identified tire marks indicating a blowout just downstream of the initial touchdown, along with contact marks from a metallic component and traces consistent with a rotating propeller. Technical examinations of the landing gear determined that the left main gear failed due to a sudden overload.
Regarding the flight profile, the pilot, an ATPL(A) holder with 3,950 total flight hours, reported that he was aware the approach was not fully stabilized. To compensate for the airfield's altitude, the pilot had increased the approach speed by 5 knots. During the flare, rather than executing a go-around, the pilot applied additional power to maintain speed.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the continuation of an unstable approach, which led to a hard landing.
- The impact of the hard landing caused the structural failure of the left main landing gear.