What happened
On March 3, 2001, at 18:05, a Cessna 402-C, registration OB-1295, was performing a scheduled commercial flight (RAP 135) from Cusco to Mazuko, Madre de Dios. The aircraft, operated by Air Atlantic, was carrying eight passengers at the time of the incident.
Upon touchdown at the Mazuko aerodrome, the pilot lost control of the aircraft after the nose landing gear failed to remain secure. The aircraft was dragged approximately 350 meters along the ground, eventually coming to a stop in a position nearly transverse and lateral to the runway. The aircraft sustained major damage, but there were no fatalities or injuries among the pilot or the eight passengers.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the mechanical failure of the landing gear during the landing phase. Investigators examined the nose landing gear (NLG) mechanism to determine why it failed to support the aircraft's weight upon contact with the runway surface.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was that the nose landing gear failed to lock or the extension mechanism failed to maintain a locked condition.
- The poor condition of the runway surface acted as a contributing factor to the loss of control.