What happened
On 22 March 2021, a Tecnam P2008-JC, registration G-TSFC, was performing a training flight when the aircraft's right main landing gear collapsed. The incident occurred at Stapleford Aerodrome in Essex while the aircraft was taxiing away from the runway after a successful landing. There were no injuries to the two crew members on board.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the structural integrity of the landing gear assembly. The aircraft features a tricycle configuration with main landing gear legs designed as flat springs, which are secured to the fuselage using a saddle clamp and a specific arrangement of bolts.
Investigators examined the bolt responsible for securing the inboard portion of the landing gear leg. The analysis revealed that this bolt had suffered a fatigue failure. Evidence of wear on the bolt's surface protection suggested that the bolt had been moving within its bushings, which likely served as the starting point for the fatigue crack.
Furthermore, the investigation reviewed the maintenance history of the aircraft. At the time of the accident, the operator was transitioning from the generic Light Aircraft Maintenance Programme (LAMP) to a manufacturer-specific maintenance schedule. Unlike the previous generic programme, the new manufacturer-specified schedule requires a detailed inspection of the gear attachments, bolts, and bushings for cracks, corrosion, or damage every 100 hours or annually.