What happened
On June 18, 2025, at approximately 9:50 AM, an Alarus CH2000 aircraft, registration HI-1105, was involved in an accident during landing at Aeropuerto Internacional Dr. Joaquín Balaguer (MDJB). The flight, which was an instructional mission, had departed from MDJB to La Romana International Airport (MDLR) and was returning to its origin under Visual Flight Rules (VFR).
Upon returning to MDJB, the aircraft made a heavy contact with the runway at heading 01. This impact caused the aircraft to bounce several times. In an attempt to regain control, the pilot applied power while the aircraft was in a nose-down attitude. This maneuver resulted in a high-energy impact with the runway surface, causing the nose landing gear to collapse and the propeller blades to strike the pavement.
Following the impact, the aircraft slid approximately 140 feet, veering off the runway centerline toward the left side, before traveling an additional 60 feet into the grassy area. The nose gear assembly detached from the fuselage and came to rest 22 meters away from the main body of the aircraft.
The investigation
The CIAA investigation focused on the sequence of events during the landing phase and the mechanical response of the aircraft. Investigators examined the aircraft's movement after the initial touchdown, specifically the series of bounces and the pilot's subsequent application of power. The investigation also assessed the structural damage to the Alarus CH2000, which included significant damage to the nose gear, the propeller, and the leading edge of the left wing.
Findings
- The pilot was performing an instructional flight.
- The aircraft experienced a heavy touchdown followed by multiple bounces.
- The application of power while the aircraft was in a nose-down attitude led to a high-energy impact.
- The impact caused the structural failure of the nose landing gear and propeller damage.
- The pilot, the sole occupant of the aircraft, was uninjured.