What happened
On 28 February 2018, an Airbus A320-214, registration ES-SAN, was conducting training maneuvers at Tallinn airport, Estonia. The flight was operated by SmartLynx Airlines Estonia and carried a total of seven people, including the captain, a safety pilot, four students, and an ECAA inspector.
During a touch-and-go sequence at approximately 15:04, the aircraft failed to respond properly to sidestick inputs upon reaching rotation speed. Although the aircraft briefly lifted off, it subsequently lost altitude and struck the ground near the runway's end. The impact caused damage to the landing gear doors and the engines. Following this initial contact, the aircraft climbed to 1,590 feet before pitching downward again. The crew managed to stabilize the aircraft using manual pitch trim and engine thrust, performing a U-turn to return to the airport. After declaring an emergency, the aircraft began its final approach, during which both engines lost power.
The aircraft touched down 150 meters before the runway threshold at 15:11. Upon landing, the tires burst, causing the aircraft to veer off the runway and come to a rest 15 meters to the left of the paved surface. The accident resulted in two injuries (the safety pilot and one student) and the total loss of the aircraft hull due to severe damage to the fuselage, engines, nacelles, and landing gear.
Findings
- The aircraft exhibited a lack of response to sidestick inputs during the rotation phase.
- A dual engine power loss occurred during the emergency approach.
- The aircraft sustained significant structural damage during the initial ground impact and the subsequent runway excursion.