What happened
On 3 October 2015, a Piper PA-16, registration EI-AEL, was performing a private flight from Letterkenny Airfield to Enniskillen Airport in County Fermanagh. During the landing phase on Runway 15, the pilot maintained an approach that was described as stable regarding both airspeed and descent rate. However, upon touchdown, the aircraft immediately entered a ground loop to the right. The sequence of events resulted in the right main landing gear collapsing inward beneath the fuselage, causing damage to the right wing, the propeller, and the landing gear assembly.
There were no injuries to the pilot or the single passenger on board during the incident.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage and the circumstances surrounding the touchdown. The inspection of the aircraft revealed that multiple structural components of the right main landing gear had suffered failures. These breaks appeared to be the result of an overload condition. The physical evidence was consistent with the aircraft experiencing a right sideslip at the moment of contact with the runway. While the pilot noted the possibility that the right brake might have been locked, testing confirmed that the wheel was capable of rotating normally.