What happened
On 31 October 2015, a Chevvron 2-32C, registration G-MZDP, was performing a private solo flight at Watnall Airfield in Nottinghamshire. The pilot was completing his third circuit of the airfield and intended to terminate the flight following the approach.
During the final approach, the pilot experienced a sudden drop in lift. To compensate for this sink and maintain the approach, additional power was applied. However, the nose gear made contact with the runway surface prior to the flare stage, causing the landing gear to collapse immediately. The aircraft slid along the runway until it came to a stop. There were no injuries to the pilot, though the aircraft sustained damage to the propeller, the fuselage, and the nosewheel, which detached from the airframe.
The investigation
The AAIB investigation examined the circumstances surrounding the loss of lift and the subsequent gear collapse. The pilot noted that while the wind was forecast to be from 330º at 7 kt, the windsock appeared stationary during takeoff approximately 15 minutes earlier. The loss of lift occurred as the aircraft passed over a line of trees near the airfield. The pilot also reflected that the height of the aircraft might have been misjudged during his attempt to recover from the sink, and noted that initiating a go-around would have been a safer course of action.
Findings
- The pilot experienced a sudden loss of lift while passing over trees.
- The nosewheel gear collapse was triggered by the nose gear striking the ground before the flare.
- The pilot's attempt to recover from the sink may have involved a misjudgment of the aircraft's height.