What happened
On May 4, 2024, at 13:38 LT, a Socata Morane MS-893 E, registration HA-VEF, operated by Aeroclub Kecskéd, was performing a training flight at Kecskéd Airfield (LHKD). During a landing on runway 33, the pilot experienced difficulty descending due to a light tailwind. The pilot attempted to compensate for the lack of descent by using significant flap settings and nose pressure.
The aircraft made its initial touchdown, but the nose gear struck the ground, causing the propeller to strike the surface. The impact caused the aircraft to lift into the air briefly before touching down again 8.8 meters later. The aircraft eventually came to rest after sliding 76.9 meters along the runway. The incident resulted in no injuries, but the aircraft sustained significant damage, including a broken nose gear, damaged propeller blades, and damage to the exhaust pipe and engine cowling.
The investigation
The Hungarian Transportation Safety Authority (KBSZ) conducted an investigation following a delayed report of the event. The investigation included a post-event inspection of the aircraft and the runway, review of meteorological data from HungaroMet, and interviews with the pilot. Investigators examined the damage to the nose gear and analyzed the flight path and landing technique used during the approach.
Findings
The investigation established that the direct cause of the event was an improperly executed landing. The pilot initiated the approach at 2,000 feet, which was significantly higher than the usual 1,600 feet practiced earlier that day. To compensate for the high approach and the tailwind, the pilot applied excessive nose pressure, leading to a heavy touchdown and subsequent nose gear failure.
Contributing factors identified include:
- Limited flight experience with this specific aircraft type.
- Potential lack of concentration due to the pilot's significant emotional stress at the time.
- The condition of the runway, which featured uneven and bumpy grass surfaces that contributed to the nose gear failure.
The investigation concluded that the incident could have been avoided had the pilot opted for a go-around instead of attempting to continue the landing under uncertain conditions.