What happened
On 19 February 2009, a Bolkow BO 208C Junior, registration G-AVLO, was conducting a private flight when it experienced an accident at Knockin Airstrip, near Oswestry, Shropshire. During the approach, the pilot noted that the aircraft was traveling at approximately 80 kt, which was 15 kt faster than the standard approach speed of 65 kt. This increased speed was attributed to the aircraft flying over an up-sloping section of the runway.
As the aircraft approached the runway threshold, the pilot became concerned that the excess speed could lead to a runway overrun. In an attempt to manage the speed, the pilot focused heavily on monitoring the airspeed, which led to a loss of positional awareness. The aircraft touched down approximately 250 m from the threshold. Shortly after touchdown, the nose landing gear collapsed, causing the propeller and the engine cowling to strike the ground. There were no injuries to the pilot or the passenger.
The investigation
The investigation, prompted by the accident report submitted by the pilot, examined the flight parameters and the pilot's decision-making process. Investigators looked into the aircraft's speed relative to its normal approach profile and the impact of the runway's topography on the flight path. The inquiry also reviewed the pilot's focus during the final stages of the approach and the subsequent mechanical failure of the landing gear.