What happened
On 30 September 2018, a Jabiru UL-D, registration G-EUAN, was conducting a private cross-country flight from Clacton to Rochester Airport. During the landing sequence on the grass runway, the pilot initially found the aircraft too high on final approach and executed a go-around.
Following a second circuit, the pilot attempted the landing. The pilot, motivated by the fact that the passenger was experiencing airsickness, believed the approach may have been rushed. Upon touchdown, the aircraft experienced a series of jolts, described by the pilot as being similar to driving over a speed bump. The nosewheel bounced repeatedly before the nose gear ultimately collapsed. The propeller made contact with the ground, and the aircraft came to a stop with the engine still running. There were no injuries to the pilot or the passenger.
The investigation
Investigators examined the aircraft and discovered that an unapproved solid nosewheel tyre had been installed. While the tyre appeared to be a standard pneumatic tyre, it had been filled with rubber. This modification resulted in the tyre weighing 1.2 kg more than a standard tyre and, crucially, it lacked any suspension characteristics. Experts estimated that a standard tyre provides approximately 20% of the total suspension for the nose gear, a benefit lost with the solid version.
The aircraft owner noted that the solid tyre was installed approximately nine months prior, following a suggestion from a flying instructor. The owner had been motivated by frequent punctures in previous inner tubes.
Findings
- The nose gear collapse was caused by a combination of a heavy nose gear touchdown and the use of an unapproved solid tyre.
- The heavy touchdown was likely a result of the pilot rushing the landing approach due to the passenger's airsickness.
- The solid tyre lacked the necessary suspension properties to absorb the impact of the landing.
- The use of solid tyres on this aircraft type is not an approved modification.