What happened
On 1 March 1998, an ARV1, registration G-STWO, was conducting a private flight and returning to Plymouth City Airport in Devon. The weather conditions at the time were good, with a surface wind reported at 290 degrees at 10 knots. As the aircraft approached Runway 31 for landing, it experienced a period of floating on the runway surface. Following this float, the aircraft dropped abruptly onto the runway. Upon taxiing back to the parking area, the pilot identified damage to the noseleg and the left main landing gear.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report form provided by the pilot. The inquiry focused on the sequence of the landing roll and the impact that led to the structural damage of the landing gear components.