Piper PA28-181 F-GHYX hard landing and loss of right main landing gear

Incident Overview On 3 June 2011, at approximately 16:00 local time, a Piper PA28-181 registered F-GHYX, operated by a flying club, was conducting an instruction flight. The aircraft was on board with an instructor, a student, and two other passengers. The incident occurred during a training flight at Granville aerodrome, where the student performed a touch-and-go on runway 07. ## Sequence of Events During the initial climb after the touch-and-go, the AFIS agent observed that the right main landing gear leg was damaged and informed the crew. The gear was still attached to the wing but was moving. The instructor decided to continue the flight to Rennes aerodrome, where the aircraft was based. ## Loss of Landing Gear Approximately ten minutes later, the instructor contacted the Rennes approach controller, reporting the landing gear issue and requesting fire assistance on the ground. During an overflight of the runway, with the assistance of a gendarmerie helicopter, the instructor and pilot confirmed that the right main landing gear was no longer present. The aircraft landed on runway 32 and came to rest on its right wing. ## Investigation Findings The right main landing gear was recovered approximately ten kilometers north of Rennes aerodrome. Examination revealed that it had broken in several places, characteristic of a sudden overload failure. No pre-existing damage was found on the observed surfaces. The right wing flaps showed slight indentation, likely caused by the loss of the wheel. ## Contributing Factors At the time of the landing at Granville, the aircraft had approximately 100 liters of fuel remaining and was about 100 kg below its maximum authorized weight. Weather conditions at 15:00 at Granville included wind from 060 degrees at 15 knots with possible gusts between 25 and 30 knots, visibility greater than 10 km, temperature near 24°C, and moderate turbulence. ## Conclusion The BEA concluded that the failure of the right main landing gear resulted from the landing at Granville. In turbulent conditions with gusts from slightly left of the aircraft and at a weight near maximum, the contact with the ground likely occurred on the right main gear. The induced forces, particularly lateral forces if there was a skid during landing, exceeded what the right main gear could absorb.