Incident
On 1 May 2021, at approximately 12:40 local time, a SOCATA MS 894 A, registration YL-OWL, suffered a nose landing gear leg fracture while landing at Limbaži airfield. The aircraft had been engaged in banner towing, a special aviation operation. During the landing sequence, the left main landing gear became entangled with the banner rope, causing a sharp left turn. The pilot countered with rudder input, and the aircraft came to a stop after sliding approximately 33 meters on the grass runway. The pilot was not injured.
Aircraft and Pilot Information
The aircraft was a single-engine, four-seat low-wing monoplane built by SOCATA (France) in 1970. It was equipped with a Franklin 6A-350-C1 engine and a Hartzell propeller. The total flight time was about 1,976 hours. The pilot, a 41-year-old Latvian citizen, held a Private Pilot License (PPL(A)) with a SEP land rating valid until 30 September 2022 and a valid Class 2 medical certificate. His total flight experience was approximately 260 hours, including 23 banner towing flights since May 2019. On the day of the incident, he had flown 1 hour and 4 minutes over two flights.
Sequence of Events
According to the pilot, he arrived at Limbaži airfield at about 11:00 to conduct banner towing operations. After preparing the banner and pickup hook, he departed at approximately 12:00. The first attempt to hook the banner was successful, but the banner twisted, making it unreadable. The pilot released the banner and landed. During the second attempt, the hook struck and broke one of the ground stakes used to hold the banner rope. On the third attempt, the aircraft's left main gear caught the banner rope and lifted it. At a safe altitude, the pilot decided to perform an emergency landing with the banner attached. Due to the left gear being blocked by the rope, the aircraft veered sharply left on touchdown, causing the nose gear leg to break.
Damage
The aircraft sustained a bent propeller blade and a fractured nose landing gear leg. The damage was assessed as repairable after replacing the affected components. No other damage to the aircraft, property, or environment was reported.
Investigation
Investigators from the Transport Accident and Incident Investigation Bureau of Latvia arrived at the scene. The banner had been removed before their arrival, limiting the ability to preserve all evidence. The aircraft was later moved to a hangar for further examination. The investigation focused on the operational and technical aspects of the event.