What happened
On July 30, 2023, a private VFR flight was conducting local maneuvers at the Nyvang landing strip south of Holb/bæk. The purpose of the flight was for the pilot to practice short-field landings under the supervision of a passenger, who possessed experience landing at this specific strip.
During the second landing on runway 23, which measures 257 meters in length and 45 meters in width, the pilot approached the threshold at a speed of 80 km/h and a height of approximately 3 meters. The pilot reported that the aircraft sank more than anticipated after passing the threshold, resulting in a hard landing. Approximately 5 meters after touchdown, the left main landing gear separated from the KZ III U1, registration OY-DYZ.
The aircraft subsequently veered onto its left wing, continuing to travel on the right main gear. After traveling roughly 50 meters, the aircraft spun, exited the left side of the runway, and came to a halt in an adjacent cornfield with its nose pointing approximately in the direction of the flight path. There were no fatalities, though one passenger sustained serious injuries.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the mechanical failure of the landing gear and the circumstances of the touchdown. The pilot noted light westerly wind conditions at the time of the accident. Following the event, an inspection of the aircraft was conducted. Based on the observations of both the pilot and the passenger, the investigation looked into the structural integrity of the landing gear attachment.
Findings
- The primary cause of the landing gear separation was identified as a fatigue fracture in a weld located at the attachment point of the left main landing gear.
- The aircraft experienced a harder-than-expected touchdown, which likely placed significant stress on the compromised component.