What happened
On 11 July 2014, a Cessna 152, registration G-BNKS, was involved in an accident during a solo training flight at Sleap Airfield, Shropshire. The student pilot was conducting exercises to prepare for an upcoming Licence Skill Test, specifically practicing glide approaches from the downwind leg. The weather was clear with light northerly winds.
After performing a go-around due to traffic, the pilot completed a successful touch-and-go. However, during a subsequent glide approach, the aircraft experienced a late flare. This resulted in an initial touchdown followed by a bounce. A second, more forceful bounce occurred, during which the aircraft pitched forward. The nosewheel struck the runway first, leading to the collapse of the nose landing gear assembly and causing damage to the propeller and engine.
The investigation
The investigation examined the flight sequence and the pilot's actions during the landing phase. The pilot noted that the flare was performed too late, failing to allow excess airspeed to dissipate before touchdown. The pilot also considered that a go-around could have been executed following the first bounce.
An instructor who observed the landing provided further context, noting that the aircraft initially touched down on all three wheels at a speed higher than usual. The instructor suggested the subsequent instability may have been a result of pilot-induced oscillation.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was a late flare during the landing approach.
- The aircraft experienced a sequence of bounces that led to a nose-down pitch.
- The impact of the nosewheel on the runway caused the collapse of the nose landing gear and damage to the propeller and engine.
- There were no injuries to the pilot.