What happened
On 6 March 2021, an Airbus A320, registration PK-LUT, operated by PT Batik Air, was preparing for a scheduled flight from Sultan Thaha Airport in Jambi to Jakarta. During the engine start sequence following pushback, the crew received a wheel nose steering fault alert on the ECAM. After verifying the bypass pin position with ground personnel, the pilots consulted the Minimum Equipment List (MEL). Finding the fault fell under a category that allowed for continued flight, the pilot in command decided to proceed.
During taxiing, the crew noted that the nose wheel failed to steer. Although an engineer suggested resetting the anti-skid and nose wheel steering selector, the pilot declined the procedure as it was not permitted under the MEL operational procedures. To maneuver the aircraft, the crew utilized differential braking and asymmetric engine thrust to complete turns.
Upon takeoff, the aircraft exhibited a tilted nose wheel, leaving rubber marks on the runway. Shortly after departure, the landing gear failed to retract, accompanied by a landing gear absorber fault alert. The crew subsequently declared a technical problem and returned to Jambi. During the landing roll, a tire burst and sparks were visible from the nose landing gear, prompting the air traffic controller to activate the crash bell. No injuries were reported among the 123 occupants.
The investigation
The KNKT examined the aircraft's maintenance logs, flight recorders, and the sequence of events leading from the initial steering fault to the landing gear malfunction. The investigation reviewed the crew's adherence to the MEL and the interaction between the flight crew and ground engineers regarding system resets. The inquiry also analyzed the physical damage to the nose wheel and tire, noting that one tire had detached during the incident.