What happened
On January 6, 2021, at approximately 19:50 local time, a Bristell S-LSA was performing a local flight at the Las Marías Aerodrome (SCVL) in Valdivia, Chile. After a 45-minute flight, the pilot initiated an approach to runway 35. The approach was stabilized and within normal parameters.
Upon touchdown, the pilot reported that the main gear made contact smoothly, but immediately following the nose wheel contact, a heavy impact and vibrations were felt through the rudder pedals. The pilot managed to keep the aircraft centered on the runway and applied controlled braking to bring the aircraft to a halt. The pilot was uninjured, though the aircraft sustained significant damage.
The investigation
DGAC Chile investigators examined the aircraft and the site of the occurrence. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft was within weight and balance limits and that all required maintenance had been performed by an authorized center, with the most recent 100-hour inspection completed in September 2020. Meteorological conditions at the time were favorable for visual flight rules (VFR).
Physical inspection of the aircraft revealed that the nose gear strut (fork) was fractured and the wheel fairing was broken. Crucially, the teleflex control cable, which facilitates steering of the nose wheel, was found to be severed. Microscopic analysis of the severed cable showed an instantaneous break with no evidence of fatigue or corrosion, indicating the break was caused by sudden high-tension loads.
Findings
- The teleflex cable failure during the landing sequence prevented the pilot from controlling the direction of the nose wheel.
- The loss of steering control caused the nose wheel to rotate uncontrollably, creating a lever effect that fractured the nose gear fork.
- The aircraft's maintenance status and the pilot's flight credentials were found to be in full compliance with regulations.
- Environmental factors and aircraft weight were not contributing factors to the incident.