What happened
On 7 April 2007, a Cessna 150, registration G-APXY, was conducting a private flight from Exeter to Compton Abbas. During the landing phase on Runway 08, the aircraft encountered an uneven section of the runway surface. This bump caused the aircraft to become airborne shortly after the initial touchdown.
Following this brief period of flight, the aircraft descended back onto the runway. This second impact occurred directly on the nose landing gear, resulting in its structural failure. As the gear collapsed, the propeller made contact with the ground, and the lower engine cowling sustained damage. The two occupants of the aircraft were uninjured and were able to exit the cabin through the doors without assistance.
The investigation
Investigators examined the aircraft and the runway conditions at Compton Abbas. The investigation focused on the sequence of events following the initial touchdown and the impact that led to the gear failure. The damage sustained to the nose landing gear, propeller, and engine cowling was documented as part of the assessment of the landing roll.