What happened
On January 8, 2021, a Tecnam P2008, registration LV-S004, was performing a general aviation flight at LAD 2843 Lago Cholila, Chubut. The aircraft was preparing for departure toward Esquel Airport. Approximately 20 meters into the takeoff roll, the nose landing gear assembly suffered a sudden structural failure. This caused the nose of the aircraft to drop abruptly, leading to a collision between the propeller and the runway surface. The impact resulted in the destruction of the propeller and significant damage to the aircraft, though there were no injuries to the pilot.
The investigation
Investigators examined the runway surface at the site and found no significant irregularities, depressions, or obstacles that could have caused the nose gear to strike the ground and break. The pilot reported that the earlier arrival at the airstrip had been normal, with no abnormal contact with the terrain during the previous landing. /nTechnical inspections of the aircraft revealed that the engine was delivering power and the weight and balance were within approved limits. The control surfaces were also functioning correctly. The investigation included a laboratory analysis of the nose gear components, specifically two attachment fittings and the nose gear strut. Visual inspections and microscopic examination of the fracture surfaces on these components showed no evidence of progressive fatigue or gradual failure.
Findings
- The failure of the nose gear assembly was sudden.
- There were no indications of progressive mechanical fatigue in the failed components.
- The structural failure of the nose gear strut caused the aircraft nose to descend, leading to the propeller strike.
- While the runway was clear of major obstructions, investigators could not entirely rule out the possibility that a previous, unnoticed impact during landing might have weakened the strut prior to the takeoff failure.