What happened
On 13 April 2014, a Cessna 152, registration G-BONW, was conducting a private flight at Sturgate Aerodrome in Lincolnshire. Before departure, the pilot had been informed by the aero club duty pilot that wind gusts of up to 20 knots had been recorded, though conditions appeared to have calmed.
During the flight, the pilot encountered unstable and blustery atmospheric conditions. As the aircraft approached the runway for landing, the pilot encountered significant turbulence. At an altitude of approximately four feet above the runway surface, the aircraft suddenly descended, resulting in a heavy landing. While the aircraft appeared to function normally during the subsequent taxi to the parking area, a post-flight inspection revealed damage to the nosewheel and its bearing.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. The examination focused on the flight conditions and the physical impact of the landing. Investigators reviewed the pilot's experience and the meteorological conditions reported at the airfield prior to and during the flight sequence.