What happened
On August 1, 2020, a pilot was conducting a flight from Jasienna to the Łosina Dolna (EPNL) aerodrome in a 3Xtrim 550 ultralight aircraft. During the approach to landing, the pilot completed the flare at an altitude of approximately two meters above the runway. In an attempt to lower the aircraft, the pilot pushed the control stick forward, which caused the nose wheel to strike the runway, followed by the main landing gear.
The impact caused the aircraft to bounce, performing a 'kangaroo' motion before coming to a stop on the runway. Due to the nature of the impact, the pilot determined that the aircraft could not be safely taxied to vacate the runway and subsequently shut down the engine and exited the cabin. The pilot sustained no injuries during the event.
The investigation
The PKBWL examined the sequence of the landing and the mechanical state of the aircraft. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft was airworthy, possessed all necessary technical documentation, and was covered by valid third-party liability insurance. The pilot held a valid UACP certificate with appropriate UAP(L) ratings and a current medical certificate.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the pilot's incorrect correction of an error during the landing phase.
- A contributing factor was the pilot's failure to execute a go-around after realizing the flare was performed too high.
- The hard and dynamic landing resulted in damage to the nose gear strut, a punctured inner tube, and propeller blade contact with the ground.