Event
On 27 May 2005 at 13:13 UTC (15:13 local time), a Cessna 152 registered I-PORR was concluding a tourist flight with a landing at Roma Urbe airport (ICAO: LIRU). As the aircraft approached the ground, the pilot touched down on the main landing gear in a very nose-high attitude, which he attributed to a wind gust. The pilot instinctively corrected by lowering the nose, causing the aircraft to drop heavily onto the nose gear. After the landing, the pilot taxied to the parking area and informed technicians of the occurrence.
Damage
The hard impact ruptured the nose wheel rim. Subsequent inspections revealed cracks and deformation in the engine mount tubes, necessitating replacement. Maintenance actions included removal and replacement of the engine mount, nose wheel rim and tire, as well as disassembly and inspection of the nose landing gear components.
Aircraft Information
The Cessna 152 is a high-wing monoplane with tricycle landing gear, manufactured by Cessna Aircraft Corp. in 1978. It was registered in Italy in 1990 with a valid certificate of airworthiness. Maximum takeoff weight is 760 kg, cruise speed 111 knots. The aircraft was powered by a Lycoming O-235-L2C engine rated at 114 hp. At the time of the event, the airframe had accumulated 4,313 hours and 6 minutes, the engine 757 hours and 6 minutes, and the propeller 391 hours and 34 minutes.
Pilot Information
The pilot, a 20-year-old male, held a valid Private Pilot License (PPL(A)) issued on 6 August 2004, with a valid single-engine piston (land) rating. He had logged 87 hours and 11 minutes total flight time, of which approximately 10 hours were on the accident aircraft. His last medical examination, dated 16 July 2003, was valid with a requirement for corrective lenses.
Weather and Airport
Meteorological conditions were CAVOK with wind from 260 degrees at 9 knots. Roma Urbe airport has an elevation of 55 feet and two runways with QFUs 16 and 34.