What happened
On 18 July 2006, a private flight was being conducted from Breighton to Full Sutton Airfield. Upon approaching Runway 22, the pilot performed what was intended to be a normal approach, flaring just beyond the runway threshold. The aircraft experienced an initial modest bounce at an angle of approximately 45 degrees to the runway axis.
Following this, the aircraft bounced a second time. The pilot, believing the aircraft would settle, did not initiate a go-around. However, a third, heavier bounce occurred as the aircraft crossed a metalled taxiway. During this third contact, the pilot heard a thud, which he attributed to the oleo struts reaching their mechanical limits. As the pilot applied power to attempt a go-around, he observed the left mainwheel entering his field of view, indicating a failure of the landing gear. The aircraft subsequently descended, making a gentle landing on its underside and sliding for roughly 30 metres before stopping.
As a result of the impact, the undercarriage was shock loaded, and the propeller sustained damage. The sudden stoppage of the propeller caused the engine to undergo shock-loading. There were no fatalities and no injuries to the crew or passenger.
The investigation
The AAIB examined the sequence of the landing and the condition of the aircraft's landing gear. The investigation looked into the pilot's assessment regarding the impact on the tarmac taxiway and the behavior of the oleo struts. While the pilot noted that the aircraft's struts were slow to return to full extension, the investigation found no evidence to contradict his assessment that the third bounce on the harder surface was a primary factor.
Findings
- The aircraft experienced three successive bounces during the landing sequence.
- The third bounce occurred on a metalled taxiway, which provides a less forgiving surface than grass.
- The main landing gear failed due to the impact of the third bounce.
- The sudden stoppage of the propeller led to the shock-loading of the engine.