What happened
On November 29, 2018, a Vietjet Airways Airbus A321-271N, registration VN-A653, was performing a commercial flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Buon Ma Thuot. During the approach to runway 09, the pilot flying applied significant pitch-up inputs at 110 feet, causing the aircraft to float. As the aircraft approached the ground at 9 feet, the pilot applied maximum forward sidestick input.
The aircraft touched down on the nose landing gear first, approximately 659 meters from the runway threshold. The impact was severe enough that two nose wheels fractured and separated from the assembly. The aircraft was unable to taxi and remained on the runway, necessitating an emergency evacuation of 207 passengers. While the evacuation was successful, 6 passengers sustained injuries and required medical evaluation.
The investigation
The CAAV investigation focused on the flight data recorder (FDR) and cockpit voice recorder (CVR) to reconstruct the landing sequence. Investigators analyzed the nose landing gear (NLG) loads and the physical condition of the broken components. Expertise from Collins Aerospace in the United States confirmed that the fracture surfaces of the wheel halves and tie bolts were consistent with failure due to overload.
Engine inspections revealed damage to the fan blades and inlets of both the left and right engines, likely caused by debris or the impact. The investigation also measured the shock absorber extension, finding it at 20.4cm, significantly below the normal 44.9cm, indicating the gear had buckled under the impact.