What happened
On 5 August 2017, a Midget Mustang M-1, registration G-CHJO, was performing a private flight at North Coates Airfield in Lincolnshire. During the landing phase, the aircraft experienced a firm touchdown. Following this impact, the aircraft rolled for roughly 100 metres before the right main landing gear leg detached from the airframe. This failure caused the aircraft to veer toward the right, eventually coming to a halt in the long grass situated beside the runway. The pilot was able to shut down the engine and exit the aircraft without any injuries.
The investigation
Following the incident, the pilot conducted a personal inspection of the aircraft. This examination revealed that the attachment bracket for the right main landing gear leg had failed in the vicinity of a weld. The pilot noted that the weld appeared to lack sufficient penetration into the metal to provide the necessary structural integrity. Additionally, the inspection found that the four bolts used to secure the bracket were only finger-tight and had been rotating.
Findings
- The right main landing gear leg collapsed due to a failure of the attachment bracket near a weld.
- Insufficient weld penetration likely compromised the strength of the bracket.
- The four bolts securing the bracket were not properly tightened, remaining only finger-tight.