Incident Overview
On June 3, 2013, at 13:10 UTC, a Fokker F28.Mk100 (F100) with registration OE-IIB experienced an incident at Kunovice Airport (LKKU). The aircraft was operated by M-Jet Aviation, an Austrian company specializing in business aviation. The flight was a charter operation from Moscow-Vnukovo to Kunovice, carrying five passengers and two crew members.
Sequence of Events
The aircraft landed on Runway 21C at 13:01 UTC. Following touchdown, the pilot received instructions from the tower to turn 180 degrees and taxi via Taxiway A to the apron. During the deceleration phase, the pilot requested assistance for the turn, noting that no specific equipment was available for the Fokker 100 at the airport. As the aircraft reached the end of the runway, which lacks a designated turning area, the pilot attempted to execute the turn using differential thrust and rudder.
Investigation Findings
The investigation determined that during the turn, the nose wheels left the paved surface and entered the grassy area adjacent to the runway. The grass was saturated with water due to recent heavy rains, creating high rolling resistance. This resistance caused damage to the nose gear steering mechanism, specifically bending and partially breaking a gear tooth at the extreme right-turn position. The main landing gear also exited the runway, becoming embedded in the wet grass near the drainage ditch.
Damage and Aftermath
No injuries were reported among the crew or passengers. The primary damage was confined to the nose wheel steering mechanism, which was repaired on-site by replacing the damaged component. The aircraft was subsequently released for a technical flight to Vienna. The investigation was conducted in accordance with EU Regulation 996/2010 and ICAO Annex 13, focusing solely on accident prevention rather than assigning liability.