What happened
On 30 May 2019, a CESSNA 560XL-XLS+, registration D-CGAA, was performing a commercial passenger flight from Amsterdam-Schiphol to Alicante-Elche Airport. During the landing roll-out on runway 10, the aircraft began to deviate toward the right side of the runway. The pilot-in-command noted that the aircraft's speed was not decreasing as expected.
In an attempt to maintain the centerline, the pilot applied the brake pedals, which caused the aircraft to veer further to the right. The pilot then attempted to use the emergency brake and applied left rudder to compensate for the drift, but the aircraft could not be kept on the runway. During the maneuver, the pilot felt a sensation similar to a tire burst. The aircraft eventually left the paved surface at section R2, gate B, and came to a stop in an unpaved area. There were no injuries to the two crew members or two passengers on board.
The investigation
The investigation examined the aircraft's wreckage, flight data recorder (FDR) logs, and maintenance history. Investigators analyzed the mechanical state of the main landing gear and the functionality of the braking systems. The examination of the wreckage revealed that the main landing gear wheels had sunk into the ground, with one left wheel missing its tire and the right tire found burst but still attached to the assembly. The investigation also reviewed the aircraft's maintenance records and various service bulletins from the manufacturer regarding brake and wheel assembly operations.
Findings
- The primary cause of the runway excursion was the loss of directional control due to the locking of the main landing gear wheel brakes.
- The aircraft's speed failed to decrease as expected during the initial roll-out.
- The main landing gear sustained significant damage, specifically to the wheel and brake assemblies.
- The aircraft's deviation was exacerbated by the inability to maintain the runway centerline once the brakes locked.