What happened
On June 2, 2013, a DR 400/140 B aircraft, operated by Noordzee Vliegclub VZW, was performing a cross-country flight from the Netherlands to Ostend airport (EBOS). During the landing phase on runway 26, the aircraft experienced a sudden deviation to the right immediately after touchdown. The pilot was unable to regain directional control, causing the aircraft to exit the paved surface.
During the excursion, the aircraft struck a runway edge light with its left landing gear fairing and subsequently collided with an airport direction sign. The impact with the sign caused the separation of the outboard portion of the right wing. The aircraft traveled approximately 10 and 100 meters across the grass before coming to a complete stop. There were no injuries among the four occupants on board.
The investigation
AAIU(Be) investigators examined the aircraft's mechanical systems, including the nose wheel steering and braking mechanisms. The inspection revealed no pre-existing technical anomalies; the steering system functioned correctly, and the brakes showed no signs of malfunction or unintended engagement. The investigation also reviewed the aircraft's weight and balance, confirming the center of gravity was within safe limits.
Analysis of onboard action camera footage allowed investigators to reconstruct the landing sequence. The footage showed that the aircraft touched down at approximately 62 KIAS, but the approach had been conducted at 70 KIAS—roughly 12% above the recommended speed for the landing configuration. The footage also confirmed that the nose gear made contact with the ground almost immediately after the main gear.
Findings
- The primary cause of the deviation was the wheelbarrowing phenomenon, where excessive airspeed and a lack of sufficient back pressure on the control stick caused the nose gear to bear a disproportionate amount of the aircraft's weight. This shifted the pivot point and created directional instability.
- A crosswind component of nearly 10 knots likely contributed to an initial 'weathervane effect,' pushing the tail and turning the aircraft into the wind.
- The pilot's relatively low flight experience was a contributing factor.
- The pilot's approach speed was significantly higher than the manufacturer's recommended speed for the landing configuration.