What happened
On 7 August 2006, a Cessna R172K Hawk XP, registration G-BPCI, was conducting a private flight from Cumbernauld to Plockton Airfield in Scotland. During the approach to Runway 20, the pilot utilized full flaps and maintained the appropriate airspeed and height, noting the relatively short length of the runway.
The pilot reported that the aircraft initially made contact with its main wheels first. However, upon the subsequent touchdown of the nosewheel, the aircraft became difficult to control. The passengers on board noted an audible noise at the moment the nosewheel hit the surface. The pilot managed to bring the aircraft to a stop on the runway and shut down the engine. There were no injuries to the pilot or the two passengers.
The investigation
Following the incident, an inspection of the aircraft was conducted to determine the cause of the loss of control. The investigation examined the physical state of the landing gear and the airframe. The inspection revealed that the left side of the nosewheel hub had fractured, which led to the deflation of the tyre.
Furthermore, the examination identified substantial damage to the engine bulkhead and distortion within the fuselage side panels. Evidence was also found on one of the propeller blade tips, which showed signs of having struck the ground during the event.