What happened
On December 15, 2016, a Cessna 172, registration N1QS, was performing local flight maneuvers at the Tahiti-Faaa aerodrome. During the second circuit of the flight, the aircraft bounced upon touchdown, prompting the pilot to execute a go-around. After completing a final circuit, the pilot returned for a landing.
During the landing roll, the pilot noted vibrations that occurred when the control column was released after the flare, which ceased when the pilot applied back pressure. As the aircraft approached the end of the runway and turned left to exit via taxiway N, the nose landing gear collapsed, bringing the aircraft to a stop on the runway. Upon exiting the aircraft, the pilot observed that the nose wheel had punctured.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of events leading to the gear failure and the pilot's experience level. At the time of the accident, the pilot held a private pilot license obtained in April 2016, with a total of 104 flight hours, including 24 hours on the Cessna 172. Notably, this was the pilot's first solo flight on this specific aircraft type since receiving solo authorization on the model six days prior.
Meteorological conditions at the time of the incident were favorable, with visibility exceeding 10 km, a temperature of 31°C, and winds from 060° at 11 knots. The investigation also considered the impact of air traffic control instructions, as the pilot had been held in a pattern for two other aircraft during the final circuit.