What happened
On 10 July 2014, a CASA 1-131E Series 1000 Jungmann, registration G-BUCK, was conducting a private flight at White Waltham Airfield in Berkshire. During the landing phase, the pilot reported that the approach and landing initially appeared normal. However, as the aircraft's airspeed decreased, the pilot observed the left wing beginning to drop.
In an attempt to maintain level flight, the pilot applied aileron input to hold the wing up. As the speed continued to decay, the ailerons lost their effectiveness, resulting in the left wing making contact with the ground. This contact caused the aircraft to yaw approximately 10 degrees to the and eventually come to a halt. There were no injuries to the pilot or the single passenger on board.
The investigation
Following the incident, an inspection of the aircraft was conducted to determine the cause of the wing drop. Investigators identified a fractured bracket located at the rear of the right landing gear strut. This structural failure allowed the landing gear to spread, which in turn permitted the left landing gear leg to move laterally.
During the investigation, the pilot noted that the initial failure might have occurred earlier in the flight. The pilot recalled encountering a significant bump while traversing a runway intersection during the takeoff roll, which may have been the moment the bracket fractured.