What happened
On September 28, 1970, a student pilot resumed flight training in a Gardan Horizon, registration HB-DVE, following a two-and-a-half-month hiatus. For the initial circuit, the student requested that a fellow student accompany the flight.
During the first landing attempt, the aircraft followed a normal approach but touched down approximately 100 meters beyond the runway threshold. Upon contact with the runway surface, the landing gear collapsed abruptly. Because the wheels failed to extend fully and remained only at the height of the axle, the aircraft continued to travel along the paved runway for approximately 600 meters before coming to a complete stop.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the mechanical failure of the landing gear during the touchdown phase. Investigators examined the structural integrity of the gear assembly and the mechanism responsible for maintaining the gear in the locked position.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was a failure in the landing gear locking mechanism.
- The collapse of the gear prevented the wheels from reaching their proper extension, leading to the subsequent runway excursion.
- There were no injuries to the occupants of the aircraft, though the Gardan Horizon sustained serious damage.