Accident to the Socata TB20 registered G-TBZO on 16/07/2020 at Nevers-Fourchambault AD

Note: The following information is principally based on the pilot’s statement. This information has not been independently validated by the BEA.

This is a courtesy translation by the BEA of the Final Report on the Safety Investigation published in August 2020. As accurate as the translation may be, the original text in French is the work of reference.

1 - HISTORY OF THE FLIGHT

The pilot took off from Nevers-Fourchambault aerodrome for a runway circuit to check the operation of the nose gear extension and locking system, due to anomalies noted during his previous flights.

When the landing gear was extended, the nose gear lock confirmation light did not turn green. The pilot asked the AFIS agent to confirm the extension of the nose gear. After confirmation, the pilot landed on runway 30. When the nose wheel touched the ground, the nose gear retracted at a very low speed. The plane slid a few meters before coming to a stop. The propeller blades and the engine cowling were damaged.

2 - ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The pilot, holder of an aeroplane private pilot license PPL(A) since 2003, had logged 757 flight hours. He had flown 12 hours as pilot-in-command on the TB20 during the last three months.

The pilot indicated that the problem first occurred during his previous flight on 11 July. The nose gear down confirmation light had not turned green[1], but he was able to land normally after the AFIS agent confirmed the gear was extended.

On the day of the occurrence, he performed a first runway circuit, during which he again encountered the same problem and was able to land without difficulty. The accident occurred during the second runway circuit. The pilot explained that he carried out these check flights before ferrying the plane to the maintenance shop in Tours the following day.

He specified that the lock light turned to green when the plane was stopped on the ground.