What happened
On 24 April 2008, at approximately 16:11 UTC, a Cessna F177RG Cardinal, registration G-BFPZ, was involved in an accident at Swansea Airport. The incident occurred during the landing phase of the flight. Following the event, it was later noted that the same aircraft, G-BFPZ, experienced a comparable accident on 29 March 2009 at Popham airfield in Hampshire.
The investigation
The AAIB conducted an investigation based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot, supplemented by telephone inquiries and a physical examination of the aircraft. Investigators focused their attention on the main landing gear downlocks to determine the nature of the mechanical failure. The examination of the aircraft's components was central to understanding why the gear failed to function correctly.
Findings
The investigation established that the accident was caused by a technical problem within the landing gear system. This mechanical issue prevented the gear from operating as required during the landing sequence.