What happened
On August 16, 2016, at approximately 15:40 local time, a G-3 Mirage ultralight aircraft departed from Bielsko-Biała Aleksandrowice (EPBA) for a recreational flight intended to terminate at Żar (EPZR). The flight proceeded normally, with both the takeoff and the subsequent landing at EPZR completed without incident.
Upon completing the landing roll at 16:00 local time, the pilot began taxiing toward the parking area. During this process, the aircraft briefly stopped on an unmaintained section of the airfield to allow a Jak-12 aircraft, which was being towed, to pass. As the pilot resumed taxiing at a very low speed across the uneven terrain, the aircraft tilted and the right wing tip made light contact with the ground. After the engine was shut down, an inspection revealed that the right composite main landing gear strut had fractured.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the conditions present during the taxiing phase and the physical impact on the aircraft's landing gear. The inquiry examined the terrain of the unmaintained portion of the airfield and the pilot's ability to identify hazards while maneuvering the aircraft near the slope area.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the decision to taxi across an unmaintained area of the airfield, where the pilot failed to identify a ground depression (a washout/sinkhole).
- A significant contributing factor was the increased bending moment applied to the landing gear, caused by the combination of the uneven terrain and the slope of the ground.