What happened
During a commercial pilot license training flight on May 24, 2010, a Piper PA-28R-200 experienced a landing gear malfunction during an approach at Kempen Airport (EHBD). The flight, consisting of an instructor and a student, had previously performed gear extension exercises during the flight. While performing a low-approach landing from circuit height, the student pilot initiated a glide without power.
During the final approach, the aircraft landed with a significant crosswind. Although the crew initially believed the landing was successful, they noticed a landing gear indication error after retracting the gear. A visual inspection by the airport manager revealed that the right landing gear was improperly extended and partially twisted. The instructor subsequently decided to divert to Maastricht Aachen Airport for better emergency support.
Upon arrival at Maastricht Aachen Airport, the instructor attempted a landing with the gear down. During the rollout, the right landing gear collapsed backward, causing the aircraft to slide and come to a halt on its right wing and the damaged gear. There were no injuries to the two occupants, though the aircraft sustained heavy damage.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of the landing and the mechanical state of the aircraft. While the crew reported a standard landing, witnesses from another aircraft observed a much harder, crabbed impact. Physical evidence recovered from the runway at Kempen Airport, including metal fragments from the wing skin and a broken piece of the landing gear strut, supported the observation of a high-impact event.
Technical analysis of the right landing gear strut revealed that the fracture surface was fresh, meaning the failure was caused by the impact of the landing itself rather than a pre-existing structural weakness or fatigue crack.
Findings
- The student pilot faced a high workload due to initiating a glide from circuit height, leaving only approximately 35 seconds to stabilize the aircraft.
- The aircraft landed with a hard impact on the right main wheel, which was the primary cause of the structural failure.
- The landing was performed in a crabbed attitude due to the student's attempt to compensate for the wind.
- A piece of the landing gear strut attachment broke off during the impact at Kempen Airport.
Safety action
Following the investigation, the flight school's safety department recommended that instructors avoid performing low-approach/glide landings in heavier aircraft like the Piper PA-28R-200 from circuit height. Instead, it is recommended that such maneuvers be conducted from a minimum altitude of 1500 feet to allow for better stabilization.