Incident Overview
On 21 May 2025, a Pipistrel Virus SW121, registration LY-OTO, was conducting aerodrome traffic circuit flights. During the landing, a hard touchdown caused the plastic nose wheel to break into multiple pieces. The wheel fork separated from the shock absorber, and the nose landing gear strut bent as the aircraft rolled down the runway.
Damage Details
The aircraft came to a stop with the lower engine cowling resting on the ground. The propeller blades, the lower engine cowling, and the right main wheel fairing were also broken. The pilot and the passenger sustained no injuries.
Aircraft Information
The Pipistrel Virus SW121 is a lightweight, low-wing aircraft. Registration LY-OTO was involved in the incident, which occurred during routine circuit training.