What happened
During the first quarter of 2023, several notable aviation occurrences took place within Dutch airspace and involving Dutch-manufactured aircraft. At Rotterdam The Hague Airport, a Boeing 737-800, registration PH-HXJ, sustained fuselage damage when a ground handling vehicle's platform spontaneously rose and struck the aircraft during a reversing maneuver.
In separate landing incidents, a TL-3000 Sirius, registration PH-4F9, experienced a collapsed nosewheel at Hoogeveen Airport, causing the propeller to strike the ground. Similarly, at Lelystad Airport, the nosewheel of an Aero Sp.z o.O. AT-3 R100, registration PH-ZVA, broke off during a landing attempt following a high bounce.
Other notable events included a Socata TBM 700 runway excursion at Kempen Airport due to unexpected engine power, and a Britten-Norman BN-2B-20 Islander that struck rocks at the threshold of the runway in Saba, resulting in substantial damage to its right wing. Additionally, an APEX Aircraft DR 400/140 B experienced a fire in its left wing following a landing at Rotterdam The Hague Airport.
The investigation
The Dutch Safety Board (OVV) reviewed various incidents, including a recent investigation into a drone fly-away caused by a compass malfunction. The Board also monitored international occurrences, such as a cabin pressure issue involving a Fokker F28 Mk 0070 in Papua New Guinea, where the crew had to return to airport due to pressure problems, resulting in 22 injuries.
Findings
Investigations into drone operations revealed that sensor failures and on-board system malfunctions are significant contributors to loss of control. Specifically, a pre-flight payload switch was identified as the cause of a compass malfunction leading to a drone fly-away. In the case of the PH-4F9 nosewheel collapse, the Board noted that this was the fourth such accident involving this aircraft model in the Netherlands since 2019.
Safety action
Following the drone fly-away investigation, the OVV issued recommendations to the manufacturer to improve user manuals regarding flight mode transitions and compass calibration. The Board also recommended that manufacturers ensure investigators have timely access to technical data. For glider operations, the Board shared findings from a collision with runway lights, recommending that instructors emphasize the importance of steering control at low speeds during field briefings.