What happened
On 29 May 2015, a Liberty XL2, registration PK-LLA, was performing solo touch-and-go training exercises at Selapar and was operated by the Lombok Institute of Flight Technology. The flight proceeded normally through the first three maneuvers. However, during the fourth touch-and-go, the aircraft encountered a patch on the runway surface while at approximately 40 knots. This caused the aircraft to bounce, resulting in a subsequent hard touchdown. During this impact, the nose wheel detached from the aircraft.
Following the separation, air traffic controllers coordinated with airport security and the flight instructor to manage the situation. The student pilot was instructed to perform several low-pass maneuvers to inspect the landing gear status. After evaluating the aircraft's condition and receiving guidance from the chief flight instructor, the pilot eventually landed on runway 09. The aircraft veered slightly to the right before coming to a stop. There were no injuries reported, though the aircraft sustained significant damage, including bent propeller blades and damage to the flaps and fuselage skin.
The investigation
Investigators from the KNKT examined the nose landing gear assembly at the flight school's facilities. The technical analysis of the fracture surface revealed evidence of low cycle fatigue. The investigation established that the structural failure of the nose gear strut was the direct result of being subjected to excessive impact forces during the landing sequence.
Findings
- The nose landing gear strut collapsed due to excessive impact forces during a hard landing.
- A previous student pilot had experienced a hard landing in the same aircraft earlier that day but did not report the event because the aircraft appeared normal.
- The student pilot's preflight inspection failed to detect any existing structural abnormalities in the nose gear.
Safety action
Following the incident, the Directorate General Civil Aviation (DGCA) held a safety awareness meeting in August 2018. The meeting targeted aircraft operators and flight schools, emphasizing the importance of implementing standard safety requirements to prevent similar occurrences.