What happened
On May 5, 2018, a CESSNA 172-N, registration EC-DEE, was performing a private general aviation flight from Badajoz Airport to the El Moral aerodrome in Badajoz, Spain. The flight was part of a group of aircraft arriving to celebrate the inauguration of the airfield.
During the landing phase on runway 34, the aircraft experienced a high-energy impact with the ground. The pilot reported that after the initial touchdown, the aircraft bounced (a "ballooning" effect) and subsequently struck the runway a second time. This impact caused the nose gear strut to break, leading to a collapse of the forward landing gear. As the aircraft continued along the runway, the propeller struck the ground, and the aircraft eventually veered off the right side of the runway. Both the pilot and the passenger were uninjured and able to evacuate the aircraft on their own.
The investigation
The investigation examined the aircraft's configuration and the circumstances of the touchdown. At the time of the incident, the flaps were set to 10 degrees. While the pilot stated the approach speed was 65 Kt, eyewitness accounts suggested the aircraft was traveling significantly faster, between 85 Kt and 95 Kt. The investigation found no evidence of a pre-existing mechanical failure in the nose gear assembly. The damage to the aircraft included significant damage to the landing gear, the lower cowling, and the propeller, which sustained bent tips.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was excessive vertical speed and improper aircraft attitude during the final approach and landing.
- This high-energy impact resulted in the collapse of the nose gear.
- Discrepancies existed between the pilot's reported approach speed and witness observations of a much higher approach speed.