What happened
On 27 February 2022, a Piper PA-28-236, registration G-CSBD, was performing a private flight when it landed at Old Buckenham Airfield in Norfolk. During the landing rollout, the pilot encountered a 15 kt crosswind. In an attempt to counteract a sudden crosswind gust, the pilot applied rudder input. This action immediately triggered a violent shimmy of the nosewheel, which the pilot described as making the aircraft nearly impossible to control. The oscillation persisted until the aircraft decelerated to approximately 20 kt, at which point the shimmy ceased and the aircraft continued taxiing normally.
The investigation
Following the incident, investigators examined the aircraft to determine the cause of the instability. The inspection revealed damage to the rudder and severe damage to the sidewall of the nosewheel tyre. Investigators concluded that the instability was likely triggered by a foreign object, such as a stone, becoming lodged between the tyre and the wheel spat. No other mechanical faults were identified within the nosewheel steering or rudder systems.
Findings
- The primary cause of the nosewheel shimmy was a foreign object becoming trapped between the nosewheel tyre and the wheel spat.
- The resulting shimmy led to the subsequent damage of the rudder and the tyre sidewall.
- There was no injury to the pilot or the passenger on board.