What happened
On 9 July 2017, a student pilot was conducting a solo cross-country flight, intending to land at Lydd Airport in Kent. The aircraft, a Tecnam P20_08-JC registered G-OLIC, was operating under training conditions. At the time of the approach, Runway 21 was active, with winds reported from 110 degrees at 8 knots, creating a slight tailwind and a left crosswind.
During the landing sequence, the pilot attempted to flare the aircraft at what was believed to be the appropriate airspeed. However, the aircraft ballooned before descending. In an attempt to arrest the descent rate, the pilot applied additional power, which caused the aircraft to bounce. Upon the second contact with the runway, the nose leg collapsed rearwards. This impact caused the propeller tips to shatter and resulted in a shock-load to the engine, which subsequently stopped. There were no injuries to the pilot.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. Investigators examined the sequence of the landing and the environmental conditions. The pilot noted that the ambient temperature was 24°C and suggested that convective lift over the runway might have contributed to the initial ballooning of the aircraft. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's recent training, noting that an instructor had observed successful landings during a previous flight from Stapleford Airport.
Findings
- The aircraft sustained damage to the firewall, underside panels, and the nose leg.
- The propeller was destroyed due to the impact.
- The pilot identified that failing to initiate a go-around after the initial ballooning and subsequent high descent rate contributed to the bounced landing and subsequent gear collapse.