What happened
On 28 January 2016, a SLA 80 Executive, registration G-CEII, was performing a private flight at Breighton Aerodrome in North Yorkshire. During the approach to the grass runway 28, the aircraft encountered low-level windshear. This atmospheric disturbance caused the aircraft to make a heavy touchdown on the runway, which subsequently resulted in a bounce.
In response to the unstable landing, the instructor on board took control of the aircraft and initiated a go-around procedure. The crew repositioned the aircraft for a second landing attempt. However, during this subsequent landing, the left main landing gear collapsed, causing damage to the aircraft's gear assembly.
The investigation
Following the incident, the AAIB examined the circumstances surrounding the flight and the mechanical failure. The investigation focused on the impact of the initial touchdown and the environmental conditions present at the time. The investigation established that the pilot was accompanied by an instructor and that the wind conditions were recorded at 230 degrees with a 10-knot velocity. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's experience, noting that while the commander held a Private Pilot’s Licence with over 1,500 total flying hours, they had only 15 hours of experience on this specific aircraft type.
Findings
- The primary cause of the gear collapse was the left main landing gear failure during the second landing attempt.
- The sequence of events was initiated by low-level windshear encountered during the first approach.
- The initial landing attempt resulted in a heavy touchdown and a subsequent bounce, necessitating the go-around.