What happened
On 14 May 2000, at approximately 1730 UTC, an Auster AOP 9, registration G-AVXY, was performing a private flight approaching Wydmerpool Airfield near Nottingham. The weather conditions were clear with good visibility, and the grass runway 09 was dry with calm winds.
During the landing sequence, the pilot reported a standard approach followed by a moderate touchdown that included a slight bounce. As the aircraft continued its landing roll, a loud impact was heard from underneath the airframe. Immediately following this sound, the aircraft drifted toward the right side of the runway. The pilot was unable to correct this directional deviation, and the aircraft eventually came to a halt beyond the right edge of the runway. The aircraft ended its movement on a heading of roughly 170°M with the left wing resting on the ground.
There were no injuries to the pilot or the passenger. Following the excursion, the crew shut down the fuel and electrical systems before exiting the aircraft through the right-hand door.
The investigation
The AAIB examined the wreckage and the circumstances surrounding the landing. The investigation established that the left undercarriage had detached from the aircraft during the landing roll. This failure resulted in significant damage to the propeller and wing, and caused the engine to undergo shock loading. The investigation also noted that the pilot could not immediately identify the specific cause of the sudden rightward veer prior to the gear collapse.