What happened
On 15 August 2017, a Vans RV-6A, registration G-CCVS, was performing a private flight circuit at Old Sarum Airfield in Wiltshire. During the fourth circuit of the grass runway, the pilot encountered turbulence and a sudden downdraught while crossing the threshold at an altitude of approximately 10-15 feet. In response to the loss of altitude, the pilot applied full power and pitched up to initiate a go-around. However, this maneuver resulted in a heavy touchdown while the aircraft remained in a level attitude.
Although no immediate damage was apparent, the pilot attempted a subsequent landing, intentionally attempting to keep the nosewheel off the ground to avoid further stress on the gear. During this second approach, the nose landing gear made contact with the ground and collapsed rearwards. The impact caused the propeller to strike the surface, leading the aircraft to flip onto its back. The pilot sustained minor injuries and was able to escape the inverted aircraft after bystanders assisted in lifting the tail to allow the canopy to be opened.
The investigation
The investigation examined the sequence of events and the structural integrity of the landing gear. Analysis of video footage provided by an observer confirmed that the initial hard touchdown during the go-around had deformed the nose landing gear leg. The pilot also provided an assessment regarding the flight conditions, noting that the airspeed had decreased significantly due to the gusty crosswind, leaving insufficient energy to counteract the downduring the approach.
Findings
- The pilot's airspeed was too low to effectively manage the unexpected downdraught and crosswind conditions.
- The deformation of the nose landing gear leg was caused by the heavy impact during the first landing attempt.
- The pilot's decision to delay the go-around until the aircraft was very low contributed to the hard touchdown.