Incident Overview
On 8 April 2023 at 10:28 UTC, an Aquila Aviation International GmbH AT01-100 aircraft, registered TC-UII, experienced a serious incident during landing at Sakarya Pamukova İniş Şeridi (ZZZZ). The aircraft was owned by İHK Havacılık San. ve Tic. A.Ş. and operated by Atlantik Uçuş Okulu A.Ş. as an approved flight training organization. The sole occupant, a student pilot, was uninjured. The aircraft sustained light damage.
Flight History
The student pilot began pre-flight preparations and commenced a solo navigation flight (E19C3) at 09:30 UTC from runway 25 of the same airstrip. The flight proceeded via Çerkeşli, İznik, Sölöz, and Gemlik at an altitude of 6,500 feet. The return leg followed the same route at 5,500 feet. While over İznik, the pilot contacted Pamukova Tower for approach and landing instructions. The pilot was cleared to land on runway 07.
According to the pilot's written statement, during the flare with the throttle fully retarded, the nose of the aircraft rose. The pilot pushed the control stick forward, resulting in a hard contact with the runway. The aircraft bounced and the nose landing gear fractured and separated. The pilot used rudder and brakes to stop the aircraft on the runway.
Aircraft Information
The aircraft was an Aquila AT01-100 (serial number AT01-100A-383), manufactured in 2021. Its maximum takeoff weight was 750 kg. At the time of the incident, the aircraft had accumulated 951.80 total flight hours. The last 100-hour maintenance was performed on 3 February 2023 at 881.1 hours by TSM Havacılık, and no open maintenance items were noted. The aircraft's airworthiness certificate was valid until 7 May 2023. The engine was a Rotax 912S3-01 (serial 9139634) and the propeller was an MT Propeller MTV-21-A/170-05 (serial 190395).
Damage
Inspection after the incident revealed damage to the nose landing gear, propeller, and engine. The damage was classified as light damage according to HKY-13, the Turkish Civil Aircraft Accident or Serious Incident Investigation Regulation. No damage to third-party property or persons occurred.
Injuries
No injuries were reported. The student pilot was uninjured.