What happened
On April 17, 2016, a PZL M-20 Mewa operated by PPHU Royal Star was conducting a training flight under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) in Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC). The flight crew, consisting of an instructor and a student pilot, completed the flight pattern and landed at EPML at approximately 14:30 LMT.
During taxiing following the landing, the crew noticed the aircraft drifting toward the right side. The pilot was able to correct this drift by applying power to the right engine. Upon taxiing to the hangar for a post-flight inspection, the crew discovered that the nose wheel had tilted to the right. Further inspection revealed that the securing nut for the left side of the wheel axle had been lost.
The investigation
The investigation established that the components of the nose gear assembly were found on the runway, approximately 500 meters from the threshold of Runway 27. The investigation determined that the loss of the securing nut occurred due to the nut loosening during aircraft operation between scheduled maintenance intervals.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the loosening and subsequent loss of the securing nut on the left side of the nose wheel axle.
- This mechanical failure occurred during the period between scheduled periodic inspections as a result of aircraft operation.