What happened
On the morning of 14 September 2003, during a scheduled maintenance check, technicians identified structural deformation on an Avions Pierre and Robin R2160 Alpha Sport, registration G-BVYO. The inspection revealed damage to the firewall surrounding the upper section of the nose landing gear, alongside warping of the supporting frames and the firewall itself. Additionally, splits were found in the metal centre tunnel that connects the nose gear to the cockpit structure near the rudder pedals. This deformation caused the left pedal for the right-hand seat to rub against the distorted structure, though the pedal remained functional.
The aircraft had last operated on the evening of 13 September 2003, for a private flight lasting approximately 80 minutes. During this flight, the pilot performed a single landing on Runway 18 under good weather conditions. While the pilot did not report any immediate issues and a passenger noted the landing was satisfactory, the pilot later recalled that the aircraft touched down on the right wheel first, followed by the left wheel and the nose wheel. Although a subsequent flight with an instructor was described as normal, the pilot noted that the landing on the 13th felt firmer than the previous evening's arrival.
The investigation
The AAIB investigation focused on determining the origin of the structural damage. The investigation examined the aircraft's maintenance records and the pilot's account of the flight on 13 September 2003. Investigators assessed the nature of the damage to the nose gear attachments and the metal centre tunnel, comparing the physical evidence to the sequence of the landing described by the pilot.
Findings
- The damage to the Avions Pierre and Robin R2160 Alpha Sport was consistent with a heavy landing.
- The structural deformation was severe enough that its occurrence likely should have been apparent to those present during the landing.
- The pilot's description of the landing sequence—right wheel, then left wheel, then nose wheel—aligned with the type of impact required to cause such damage.