What happened
On 7 June 2006, a Cessna 152, registration G-BNRK, was completing a navigation exercise as part of a student pilot's training syllabus. The flight, which included a stop at Kemble Airfield, returned to Blackbushe Airport under favorable weather conditions, characterized by CAVOK visibility and light winds.
During the approach to Runway 25, the pilot noted that the airspeed was between 70 and 75 knots, exceeding the typical 65-knot approach speed. The subsequent landing attempt involved a heavy touchdown and a bounce. Although the pilot attempted to correct the descent by moving the control column aft, the aircraft bounced a second time, reaching an estimated height of 15 feet, before a third heavy landing occurred. During the landing roll, the pilot felt vibrations through the rudder pedals and applied the brakes. Upon vacating the runway, an inspection revealed that the nose gear tyre had separated from the wheel rim, leaving debris on the runway.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of the landing and the mechanical failure of the nose gear. The AAIB examined the flight parameters and the physical damage to the aircraft. The airfield Rescue and Fire Fighting Service conducted a runway inspection, during which they recovered several fragments of the broken wheel.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the failure to initiate a go-around after the initial heavy landing and excessive approach speed.
- The pilot's decision to continue the landing despite the high approach speed and the first bounce led to a second, significant bounce.
- The repeated heavy impacts caused the nose wheel tyre to detach from the rim and resulted in the fragmentation of the wheel itself.
- There were no injuries to the crew, though the aircraft sustained damage to the nose gear wheel and tyre.