What happened
On June 10, 2017, at approximately 11:53 local time, an Aero AT3, registered as HB-SRA, was returning to Bern Belp Airport (LSZB) following a local sightseeing flight. The aircraft was operating under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) with a pilot and one passenger on board.
During the landing phase, the aircraft dropped to the runway from a height of roughly 1.5 meters. Following this initial contact, the aircraft bounced back into the air. In an attempt to maintain control of the aircraft using the control stick, the pilot experienced two to three subsequent bounces. During the final contact with the runway, the nose gear struck the surface first, causing the gear to collapse. The propeller blades subsequently made contact with the runway, and the aircraft slid along the pavement on its main landing gear and nose gear before coming to a complete stop.
The investigation
SUST conducted a summary investigation into the incident. The investigation focused on the sequence of events during the landing phase and the mechanical failure of the landing gear. The inquiry confirmed that the aircraft sustained substantial damage as a result of the impact. While the crew members remained uninjured, one passenger was classified as lightly injured.
Findings
- The primary cause of the damage was the collapse of the nose gear following a series of uncontrolled bounces on the runway.
- The aircraft's descent from 1.5 meters led to an initial impact that initiated the bouncing sequence.
- Pilot inputs intended to stabilize the aircraft during the bounces contributed to the final nose-first impact.