What happened
The incident occurred during a solo cross-country flight conducted by a student pilot. Upon approaching the destination, the pilot encountered a grass strip that was described as rough, poorly maintained, and possessing soft ground conditions. Additionally, tall trees were present near the approach end of the runway, potentially affecting the final approach path.
During the landing phase, the aircraft bounced twice upon contact with the surface. Following the second bounce, the nose gear collapsed under the stress of the impact. The force of the collapse caused the aircraft to nosed over onto its nose or fuselage. The pilot reported these specific conditions and the sequence of events immediately after the incident.
The investigation
Investigation of the event focused on the physical condition of the airfield and the mechanical outcome of the landing. The primary finding was the structural failure of the nose gear following the double bounce. The ground conditions were confirmed to be soft and uneven, which likely contributed to the severity of the impact forces transmitted through the landing gear.
Findings
Contributing factors included the rough and soft grass strip, which reduced the effectiveness of the landing rollout and increased the likelihood of a bounce. The presence of tall trees near the approach end may have influenced the pilot's descent profile or visibility. The immediate cause was the nose gear collapse resulting from the bounced landing on the compromised surface.
Safety message
Pilots operating into unimproved grass strips should exercise extreme caution regarding ground conditions and potential obstacles. Soft, uneven surfaces can lead to unexpected bounces and structural damage if not managed with appropriate technique and speed control.