What happened
On February 21, 2017, a pilot was conducting a local circuit flight at the Clermont-Ferrand Auvergne aerodrome. While on final approach for runway 26, the pilot maintained a speed of approximately 65 kt. As the pilot reduced power to initiate the flare, the APM 30 experienced a stall. This resulted in a hard touchdown followed by a bounce on the runway.
Following the impact, the pilot continued taxiing to the parking area. At the time of the incident, the pilot did not perceive any abnormal noises or mechanical issues and did not report the hard landing to the flight club's safety officer. A post-flight inspection performed by the pilot also revealed no apparent anomalies.
The investigation
Two hours after the incident, an instructor and student attempted to prepare the aircraft for a training flight. They were unable to start the engine, leading to the cancellation of the flight. A subsequent inspection by a mechanic later that evening revealed significant damage.
Investigators established that the aircraft had suffered a disconnected fuel valve control linkage and a coolant leak. Most critically, the inspection of the nose gear area revealed a dent in the fuselage and a structural failure of the composite material at the upper attachment point of the nose gear.
Findings
- The primary cause of the damage was a stall during the flare phase, which led to a high-impact landing and subsequent bounce.
- The pilot failed to report the hard landing to the club authorities, which delayed the discovery of the structural damage.
- The aircraft sustained heavy damage, including a broken composite structure at the nose gear attachment and engine compartment damage.