Event Overview
On 11 July 2021, an Airbus A320-214 landed at Kavala, Greece, and suffered serious damage to the fuselage structure in the area of the nose landing gear. The aircraft had previously executed a rejected takeoff at Heraklion, Greece, on 10 July 2021. No injuries were reported among occupants, and no third-party damage occurred.
Nose Landing Gear Shock Absorber Condition
During the landing in Kavala, the nose landing gear shock absorber was depressurized (without compressed air). This condition contributed to the damage observed on the aircraft structure.
Sequence of Events
The day before the accident, on 10 July 2021, the crew initiated a rejected takeoff on Heraklion airport. After this event, the aircraft continued to operate. The following day, while landing at Kavala, the depressurized nose landing gear shock absorber resulted in structural damage.
Damage Description
The aircraft fuselage structure in the area of the nose landing gear sustained serious damage. The nose landing gear itself was also affected. The exact extent of damage is detailed in the investigation report.
Personnel and Procedures
The investigation identified that involved personnel failed to follow technical indications and procedures related to the nose landing gear shock absorber condition and the rejected takeoff event. These failures were causal to the accident.
Investigation Findings
According to the German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation (BFU), the accident was caused by the loss of compressed air from the nose landing gear shock absorber, which led to damage of the fuselage structure in the area of the nose landing gear. The underlying cause was the non-compliance with technical indications and procedures by the involved personnel.