What happened
On July 7, 2017, a Mudry Cap 231, registration F-GRSL, was performing an aerobatic training flight at Jonzac. Following a twenty-minute training session, the pilot initiated a final approach to runway 14, which is an unpaved strip. The landing was reported as smooth; however, a few meters after touchdown, the aircraft began to tilt slightly to the right. The pilot then heard a cracking sound, followed by the right wing dropping and making contact with the runway surface. The aircraft subsequently spun to the right before coming to a halt on the runway.
The investigation
Investigators examined the aircraft's structural integrity and the landing gear assembly. The inspection revealed that the right main landing gear was bent. Specifically, the five attachment screws connecting the spar to the upper end of the landing gear leg had sheared off. The landing gear leg itself was found wedged within a corner of the gear housing. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's experience and the aircraft's maintenance history. The pilot, who held a PPL/A since 2011 with 210 total flight hours, noted that the weather conditions were CAVOK with calm winds and a temperature of 30 °C.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the failure of the five attachment screws securing the right main landing gear to the spar.
- The pilot suggested that the aircraft may have been subjected to multiple hard landings by previous pilots, which potentially weakened the landing gear attachment points.