What happened
On 4 June 1998, a Cessna 152, registration G-BNUS, was engaged in a private training flight at Stapleford Airfield. The student pilot had previously completed two circuits and landings with an instructor to a satisfactory standard and was subsequently instructed to perform 30 minutes of solo circuits.
During the flight, the aircraft was operating on runway 04L, which featured a dry grass surface with 1,050 metres of available landing distance. Weather conditions were favorable, with visibility exceeding 10 km and a light easterly surface wind.
After successfully completing two landings and one go-around, the pilot commenced a fourth approach. While performing the flare, the aircraft made a heavy impact on the nosewheel. Although the pilot attempted to apply power to initiate a go-around, the nosewheel had already collapsed. The aircraft came to a stop in the middle of the runway in a nose-low position with the engine stopped. The pilot was able to shut off the fuel and electrics and exit the aircraft without assistance. There were no injuries to the pilot, though the aircraft sustained damage to the engine, propeller, fuselage, and nosewheel.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report form submitted by the pilot. Investigators examined the sequence of the landing and the state of the airfield at the time of the incident. The investigation confirmed that the pilot was a student with 55 total flying hours, only 7 of which were on this specific type.
Findings
- The aircraft landed with excessive force on the nosewheel during the flare phase of the fourth approach.
- The structural failure of the nosewheel occurred before the pilot could successfully execute a go-around.