Flight History
The pilot, who held a National Private Pilot’s Licence (Microlight), had 105 hours of flying experience, with 7 hours on type. He had completed 2 hours of transition training on the Jabiru. On 30 September 2018, he flew a cross-country flight from Clacton to Rochester. The passenger was feeling airsick, prompting the pilot to want to land quickly. On the first approach to Runway 34 (grass), he realized he was too high and initiated a go-around. The second approach felt normal, and he made what he thought was a normal landing. However, after touchdown, he felt a jolt similar to "driving over a speed bump." The nosewheel bounced several times and then collapsed. The propeller struck the ground, but the aircraft came to rest with the engine running. The pilot shut down the engine and vacated with the passenger. Neither occupant was injured. The pilot could not recall his approach speed but considered he might have rushed the landing due to the airsick passenger.
Aircraft Examination
The aircraft, a Jabiru UL-D (registration G-EUAN, serial no. 666, year of manufacture 2007) with one Jabiru 2200B piston engine, was examined by the UK distributor for Jabiru. They found that an unapproved solid nosewheel tyre had been fitted. This tyre weighed 1.2 kg more than a standard tyre with an inner tube and had no suspension characteristics. They estimated that a standard tyre would normally provide about 20% of the total suspension, but the solid tyre eliminated that contribution.
Background on the Solid Tyre
The aircraft owner (not the accident pilot) reported owning the aircraft for 10 to 12 years and experiencing 7 or 8 nosewheel tyre punctures during that time. A flying instructor in Spain told him that he had fitted a solid nosewheel tyre without problems, leading the owner to fit one. The owner asked the instructor if this was approved and was told it was. The solid tyre had been fitted about 9 months before the accident, and the owner had logged about 20 hours without issues. However, the Light Aircraft Association (LAA) stated that such a tyre was not an approved modification for the Jabiru. They planned to issue an Airworthiness Alert and write to owners of the Jabiru UL-D advising that solid tyres are not acceptable and must be replaced before further flight.
Analysis
According to the AAIB report, the nose gear collapse on landing was probably caused by a combination of a heavy nose gear touchdown and the fitment of a solid tyre. The heavy nose gear touchdown was probably the result of the pilot’s rushed landing due to his passenger feeling airsick.