What happened
During the second quarter of 2017, several notable aviation occurrences took place within Dutch airspace and involving Dutch nationals abroad. At Amsterdam Airport Schiphel, a Boeing 777-35R(ER) experienced a tail strike during takeoff rotation on runway 18C. The crew subsequently performed a fuel dump over the North Sea before returning for a safe landing. In a separate incident at the same airport, a Canadair Regional Jet CRJ-900 was nearly involved in a runway incursion when a bird control vehicle was still occupying runway 36L during the aircraft's takeoff clearance.
In the glider sector, an ASK-21 (registration PH-733) crashed into a forest near the Malden glider airfield after the crew lost ground visibility during a winch launch. The aircraft sustained heavy damage, though the instructor and trainee were uninjured. Additionally, a Piper PA-18-150 Super Cub (OO-POU) experienced a landing gear collapse and ground loop at Lelystad Airport following a crosswind landing.
Other notable accidents included a Diamond DA-40 D (PH-EMW) that performed an emergency landing in a meadow near Haaren following engine power loss, and a Lancair Legacy 2000 (PH-LIS) at Breda International Airport. In the latter case, the aircraft's nose gear broke off after the pilot accidentally pushed the control stick forward while attempting to close an unsecured canopy.
Internationally, a Piper PA28-161 Cherokee (G-WARA) performed a precautionary landing in a Hungarian meadow due to an electrical system failure, while a Fokker F27-600 Friendship (5Y-FMM) operating in Somalia suffered a wing fire and total loss after its landing gear collapsed and struck an obstacle.
The investigation
The Dutch Safety Board examined the operational complexities at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, specifically looking at how increased traffic and infrastructure density impact safety margins. The Board also investigated the technical and human factors involved in the various accidents, including the engine failure of the Diamond DA-40 D and the structural failure of the landing gear on the Piper Super Cub.