What happened
On August 19, 2020, at approximately 14:00 local time, a private flight operating under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) was performing a takeoff from St. Gallen-Altenrhein Airport (LSZR). The aircraft, a Focke-Wulf FW P 149 D with registration HB-KIU, was involved in a serious incident during its takeoff roll. During the acceleration phase, the retractable landing gear collapsed. This mechanical failure caused the pilot to lose control of the aircraft, which subsequently veered across the right edge of the runway and slid into the adjacent meadow area before coming to a halt.
The investigation
The Swiss Transportation Safety Investigation Board (SUST) initiated an investigation into the event to determine the circumstances surrounding the gear failure. The investigation focused on the sequence of events from the start of the takeoff roll to the final position of the aircraft. The scope included examining the mechanical state of the aircraft's retractable landing gear and the impact of the collapse on the aircraft's directional control on the runway.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the collapse of the retractable landing gear during the takeoff run.
- The loss of directional control was a direct consequence of the gear failure, leading the aircraft to exit the runway boundaries.
- The aircraft sustained light damage, and there was also minor damage to the surrounding ground area.
- There were no injuries to the pilot or any third parties involved.