What happened
On 31 May 2014, a Vans RV-7A, registration G-IIRV, was performing a private flight at Goodwood Aerodrome in West Sussex. During the landing phase, the pilot successfully touched down on both main wheels. However, as the aircraft continued its ground roll, the nose landing gear collapsed. This caused the aircraft to skid across the surface until it came to a stop. The impact resulted in damage to the propeller and the nose landing gear. There were no injuries to the pilot or the single passenger on board.
The investigation
The investigation examined the state of the airfield surface and the aircraft's mechanical condition. The pilot noted that the grass runway was soft and suggested that the nosewheel may have encountered a divot during the roll. To verify the runway conditions, the AAIB consulted the Airfield Manager. Records indicated that the runway surface had been assessed on the day of the accident as being firm to soft with some puddles present. Due to these surface conditions, pilots were instructed to land left or right of the centerline. Despite these conditions, touch-and-go landings were still authorized for use of the runway.
Findings
- The landing gear failure occurred during the ground roll on a grass surface.
- The runway surface was characterized as soft to firm with puddles.
- The pilot's assessment suggested the nosewheel may have struck a divot in the grass.