What happened
On 16 August 2016, a TL 3000 Sirius, registration EI-FSA, was performing a general aviation flight from Letterkenny airfield to a private grass airstrip in Cregboy, Co. Galway. The aircraft was carrying a pilot and one passenger.
As the pilot initiated the flare for landing on runway 22, the aircraft experienced an unexpected and sudden increase in the rate of descent. This resulted in a heavy impact on the main landing gear, causing the aircraft to bounce. During the subsequent second touchdown, the aircraft landed on its nose wheel. The force of the impact caused the nose gear assembly to fracture and separate from the gear tube, which then dug into the grass runway. As the aircraft decelerated, the propeller, nose section, and the right wingtip made contact with the ground. The aircraft came to a stop approximately 136 meters past the runway threshold. There were no injuries to the occupants, though the aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The investigation
The investigation examined the aircraft's flight history, the airfield environment, and the pilot's experience. Data from the onboard Garmin G3X avionics system confirmed the pilot's account of the flight sequence. The investigation also reviewed the aircraft's Pilot's Operating Handbook and consulted with the manufacturer regarding wind limitations.
Physical inspection of EI-FSA revealed extensive damage, including the separation of the nose gear, damage to the propeller and engine cowling, and structural damage to the right wing root and wingtip. The investigation also noted that the aircraft's manual provided no specific limits for crosswind operations.
Findings
- The aircraft's low mass makes it particularly sensitive to fluctuations in wind velocity and direction.
- A 14-knot crosswind was present at the time of the accident.
- Turbulence or downdrafts likely generated by trees and bushes located near the runway threshold may have caused the sudden drop during the flare.
- The Pilot's Operating Handbook for the TL 3000 Sirius does not specify maximum allowable crosswind components.