What happened
On 26 April 2020, a Rans S6-ES, registration G-YTLY, was conducting a private local flight departing from Longside Airfield, near Peterhead, Aberdeenshire. During the initial climb, the pilot reached an altitude of 1,000 ft where the aircraft encountered turbulence. Due to these atmospheric conditions, the pilot elected to terminate the flight and return to the airfield.
Upon returning, the surface wind conditions had shifted, leading the pilot to utilize Runway 10 for the landing. While the approach was performed without difficulty and maintained a normal speed and attitude, the aircraft experienced a rapid descent during the flare. The aircraft struck the ground with significant force and bounced before coming to a stop. The impact resulted in damage to the nosewheel leg, which subsequently collapsed, causing further damage to the propeller and the cockpit structure. There were no injuries to the pilot.
The investigation
The AAIB investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. The inquiry focused on the flight sequence from the encounter with turbulence to the moment of touchdown. Investigators examined the aircraft's mechanical state and the impact dynamics that led to the structural failure of the landing gear.