What happened
On May 17, 2025, a Tecnam P2002 Sierra, registered as LV-S104, was conducting a flight training mission at La Puntilla Aerodrome in Mendoza, Argentina. During the landing phase of the operation, the aircraft experienced several bounces on the runway surface. These successive impacts led to the collapse of the nose landing gear, causing the aircraft to come to a halt on the pavement with its lower fuselage partially resting on the ground.
There were no injuries reported for the pilot on board. Following the incident, the aircraft was secured at the aerodrome for inspection.
The investigation
Preliminary technical assessments conducted at the scene identified substantial damage to the aircraft. The inspection confirmed structural damage to the nose gear, the lower fuselage cowling, the engine system, and the propeller. While the wings and control surfaces appeared unaffected, the damage to the propulsion and landing gear components was significant enough to require a detailed structural evaluation in accordance with manufacturer maintenance manuals.
Findings
- The primary cause of the aircraft's immobilization was the collapse of the nose gear.
- The structural failure of the gear was triggered by multiple bounces during the landing sequence.
- The aircraft was engaged in non-commercial flight training at the time of the occurrence.