What happened
On 13 July 2018, an Ikarus C42 FB80, registration G-ULSY, was conducting a private flight when it experienced a mechanical failure during landing at Sandown Airfield, Isle of Wight. Immediately following touchdown, the left landing gear assembly failed. This failure caused the mainwheel to pivot inwards and rearwards toward the aircraft's fuselage. As a result, the aircraft veered uncontrollably to the left, leaving the prepared runway surface and coming to a stop in the long grass nearby. There were no injuries to the pilot or the single passenger on board, and both occupants were able to exit the aircraft without assistance.
The investigation
The AAIB examined the wreckage and the landing gear assembly to determine the sequence of the structural failure. The investigation established that a rod end bolt, which connects the drag link to the undercarriage assembly, had sheared. Specifically, the fracture occurred forward of the rose joint lock nut. The pilot noted that the touchdown was not excessively heavy and that braking had not yet been applied when the collapse occurred. While the investigation noted that similar rod end bearing failures have been documented in other aircraft models, such as the Pietenflpol Air Camper, this was the first reported instance of such a failure on this specific aircraft type.
Findings
- The left landing gear collapsed because the rod end bolt connecting the drag link to the undercarriage assembly sheared.
- The exact cause of the bolt's shearing could not be determined.
- The aircraft departed the runway surface due to the loss of directional control following the gear failure.