What happened
The incident occurred while the pilot was practicing touch-and-go landings. During the landing roll of one such maneuver, the airplane began to veer significantly to the left. The pilot attempted to correct the trajectory but was unable to maintain directional control of the aircraft. As a result, the airplane exited the paved surface and subsequently nosed over.
The investigation
Following the accident, investigators examined the landing gear assembly to determine the mechanical cause of the loss of control. Inspection of the left main gear brake mechanism revealed a critical failure. A retention clip had broken free from its intended position and become lodged between the disc housing and the wheel hub. This jamming prevented the brake system from functioning correctly, contributing to the asymmetric braking or drag that led to the veer.
Findings
The primary factor in this accident was the mechanical failure of the left main gear brake assembly. The dislodged clip created a physical obstruction that compromised the pilot's ability to steer the aircraft during the high-speed ground roll. This event highlights the importance of regular maintenance checks on landing gear components, particularly small retention hardware that can fail due to fatigue or vibration.