What happened
On 17 June 1998, a Cessna 150L, registration G-BFVU, was conducting a private flight from Bournemouth to Compton Abbas Airfield. The weather conditions at the time of the incident were favorable, with good visibility and a surface wind of 270 degrees at 10 knots.
Upon arrival at the airfield, the pilot performed a standard circuit and a go-around on Runway 26. Following this, the pilot commenced a second circuit and approach to the same grass runway. During the landing phase of this second approach, the aircraft bounced upon contact with the surface. This bounce resulted in a subsequent touchdown where the nosewheel struck the ground first.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report form provided by the pilot. The examination focused on the sequence of the landing maneuver and the physical impact of the aircraft on the grass runway. The investigation established that the primary impact occurred when the nosewheel assembly failed to remain in its proper position during the second touchdown, leading to the collapse of the gear and resulting in damage to the propeller.