What happened
On the evening of 28 July 2008, a student pilot was conducting his inaugural solo flight at Kilkenny Airfield. Prior to the solo attempt, the pilot had completed several successful circuits under the supervision of an instructor. During the solo operation of the Samba XXL, registration OK-KUA 26, the approach and circuit phases were performed normally. However, during the landing sequence on runway 27, the pilot allowed the nose wheel to make contact with the runway first. This initial contact triggered a bounce, which was immediately followed by a second bounce. Upon the third impact, the nose wheel assembly collapsed, causing the propeller to strike the ground and the engine to cease operation. The pilot exited the aircraft without any injuries.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of the landing and the mechanical state of the aircraft. It was established that the aircraft sustained substantial damage, specifically involving a severed nose wheel strut and impact damage to the wooden propeller and the underside of the fuselage. The investigation also considered the topography of the airfield, noting that runway 27 possesses a downhill slope, which may have complicated the pilot's landing judgment.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the pilot's failure to maintain sufficient nose wheel clearance during the landing phase.
- The aircraft experienced a series of three impacts, with the third impact being forceful enough to cause the structural failure of the nose gear.
- The downhill gradient of the runway served as a contributing factor by making altitude and touchdown point judgment more difficult for the student pilot.