What happened
On June 20, 2019, a private pilot was conducting a cross-country flight originating from Katowice Muchowiec (EPKM). The planned route included several stops, including Nysa, Kłodzko, Lubań, and Szklarska Poręba, before returning to the departure airfield. During the flight, the pilot decided to divert to the Świebodzice (EPWC) airfield due to physiological needs.
After performing a low pass to check the wind direction, the pilot prepared for a landing on runway 23. The pilot approached the runway with a flat glide slope. Upon touchdown, the pilot noted that the runway surface was wet. As the aircraft made contact with the ground, the nose gear was subjected to a sudden, violent downward force. This impact caused damage to the nose gear strut and resulted in the detachment of the nose wheel. The Pipistrel Virus SW-100, registration SP-SEAT, continued to travel several dozen meters on the damaged strut before coming to a complete stop. The pilot and passenger sustained no injuries.
The investigation
The PKBWL investigation examined the flight sequence, the environmental conditions at the time of the incident, and the mechanical state of the aircraft. The investigation confirmed that the weather conditions were within visual meteorological conditions (VMC) and that meteorological factors did not contribute to the event. The investigation focused on the landing technique and the interaction between the aircraft and the wet runway surface.