What happened
On December 2, 2017, at approximately 10:08 a.m. local time, a Tecnam P2002JR, registration HI-885, was conducting a flight instruction mission at Santiago Cibao International Airport (MDST) in the Dominican Republic. The flight crew, consisting of an instructor and a student, was performing a series of touch-and-go maneuvers.
Following a successful first landing, the crew proceeded with a second maneuver. During the configuration for the second landing, the crew noted that the landing gear extension lever responded more slowly than usual, though the three green indicators eventually illuminated. Upon touchdown, the aircraft struck the runway with excessive energy, causing the nose landing gear to collapse. This impact forced the propeller blades to strike the runway surface, causing the aircraft to slide along the pavement. Both occupants of the aircraft were uninjured.
The investigation
The CIAA investigation examined the aircraft's maintenance records, the flight crew's qualifications, and the physical evidence at the scene. The investigation confirmed that the Tecnam P2002JR was airworthy, having undergone its last 100-hour inspection on November 21, 2017. Investigators also reviewed the meteorological conditions, which were found to be favorable for flight operations at the time of the incident. Physical examination of the nose gear assembly revealed structural damage consistent with a high-energy impact with the runway surface.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was a high-energy landing on the nose gear.
- The collapse of the nose landing gear directly resulted in the propeller blades striking the runway.
- The flight crew's actions during the landing maneuver were identified as a contributing factor to the occurrence.
- There was no evidence of mechanical failure in the landing gear system prior to the impact, nor were there any physiological or incapacitating factors affecting the pilot.