What happened
On 29 April 2006, an AutoGyro Europe MT-03, registration G-RSUK, was completing a private endurance flight from Popham Airfield to Coventry Airport. The 90-minute flight proceeded normally until the descent phase, during which the pilot entered a hold on the base leg to allow a Boeing 737 to land.
Upon landing, the pilot initiated an immediate left turn to vacate the runway. The aircraft touched down on its main wheels with the engine at idle power. As the nosewheel made contact with the runway, the aircraft suddenly veered to the left. This movement caused the rotor blades to strike the runway, resulting in one blade breaking off and the aircraft rolling onto its right side. The impact destroyed the propeller and rotor blades and caused damage to the tricycle landing gear. The pilot escaped the open cockpit without any injuries.
The investigation
The investigation established that the aircraft was equipped with a steerable nosewheel connected directly to the rudder pedals. This specific configuration featured a 10-degree leftward offset to ensure the nosewheel remained straight during takeoff. Consequently, the pilot had to manually centralize the nosewheel before touchdown to prevent a leftward veer.
Investigators found that the pilot's attempt to turn left immediately after touchdown, combined with a high groundspeed and the natural decay of rotor speed, created an unstable situation. The investigation also noted that the aircraft's high center of gravity and the sensitivity of the nosewheel steering contributed to the loss of control.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the combination of a high groundspeed and the pilot's failure to centralize the nosewheel before touchdown.
- The aircraft's nosewheel was intentionally offset to the left by 10 degrees to facilitate takeoff, which necessitated manual correction by the pilot during landing.
- The reduction in rotor speed during the landing roll decreased the aircraft's stability.
- The aircraft's high center of gravity and the direct relationship between the rudder pedals and the nosewheel made the steering overly sensitive during the landing phase.