What happened
On October 3, 2019, a Piper PA28R-200, registration OY-POW, was performing a landing at a private grass airstrip near Årslev, near Brabrand, Denmark. The flight was operating under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) for private purposes, having departed from Roskilde (EKRK).
During the landing rollout on runway 10, the pilot experienced a sudden leftward drift accompanied by a slight bank to the left. Despite attempts to correct the aircraft's direction, the plane continued to slide sideways toward the left edge of the runway. During this lateral movement, the right main landing gear collapsed, bringing the aircraft to a halt near the left runway boundary.
The investigation
The Danish Accident Investigation Board conducted an initial safety investigation based on reporting forms, interviews, and photographic evidence. The investigation focused on the sequence of the aircraft's movement during the rollout and the resulting mechanical failure. Following the preliminary findings, the commission decided not to pursue further formal investigation steps.
Findings
- The aircraft sustained moderate damage to the airframe.
- The primary cause of the incident was the failure of the forward attachment bracket on the left main landing gear.
- This structural failure led to the subsequent collapse of the landing gear and caused secondary damage to the right wing, the horizontal stabilizer, and the nose landing gear.