What happened
On 1 December 2024, an ultralight aircraft, Flight Design CT LSi-600 registered as LY-PST, experienced a landing incident involving a bounce and subsequent structural failure. During the initial approach and touchdown, the aircraft bounced off the runway surface rather than settling smoothly onto the main wheels.
During the second attempt to touch down on the runway, the front (nose) landing gear of the aircraft broke. Following this mechanical failure, the aircraft skidded with its nose resting on the ground. It banked sharply to the left and continued to skid across the runway surface, eventually coming to a stop with the tip of the left wing in contact with the ground.
The pilot was not injured in the incident.
The investigation
The Safety Investigation Authority of the Republic Lithuania (SIA) examined the circumstances surrounding the landing. The authority established that the sequence of events began with a bounce during the initial touchdown, which led to a second impact where the nose gear failed under load.
Findings
The primary causal factor was the failure of the front landing gear during the second runway touchdown following a bounce. Contributing factors included the aircraft skidding with its nose down and banking left, resulting in the left wing tip contacting the ground. The pilot remained uninjured despite the structural damage to the aircraft.
Safety action
No specific safety recommendations or actions are recorded in this source material.