What happened
On 4 August 2004, a Cessna 177RG Cardinal, registration N53103, was conducting a private flight when it experienced an incident during landing at Sandown Airport, Isle of Wight. While approaching Runway 23, the aircraft made initial contact with the runway but subsequently bounced twice. An observer in the control tower noted that these bounces increased in magnitude, with the second bounce reaching an estimated height of approximately five feet.
In an effort to stabilize the aircraft and ensure it remained on the runway, the pilot lowered the nose of the aircraft. This action resulted in the nosewheel striking the surface with significant force, leading to the collapse of the nose landing gear. There were no injuries to the pilot or the single passenger on board.
The investigation
The investigation, based on the accident report submitted by the pilot, examined the sequence of the landing and the subsequent mechanical failure. The inspection of the aircraft revealed damage to the propeller, the lower engine cowl, the engine mounting frame, and the nosewheel doors.
Findings
- The primary cause of the gear collapse was the excessive lowering of the nose following a series of landing bounces.
- The initial landing was hard, triggering a sequence of increasingly large bounces.
- The pilot's attempt to force the aircraft onto the ground via nose input directly contributed to the structural failure of the nose landing gear.