Accident Overview
On 23 May 2009 at 1500 hours UTC, a Cessna U206G Stationair, registration G-LEMO, sustained a nose landing gear collapse during landing at East Winch Airfield in Norfolk. The aircraft, manufactured in 1979, was powered by a single Continental Motors Corp IO-520-F piston engine. The flight was a private operation with one pilot and three passengers on board.
Sequence of Events
According to the pilot’s report submitted via the Aircraft Accident Report Form, the flight had been uneventful until the landing on Runway 09. During the touchdown, the aircraft bounced and subsequently entered a series of pitch oscillations, described as porpoising. The nose landing gear collapsed as a result of these oscillations. The propeller then struck the grass runway surface before the aircraft came to a halt. The pilot and passengers were uninjured and were able to exit the aircraft normally.
Damage
The accident caused damage to the nose landing gear and the engine cowling.
Pilot Information
The commander held a Private Pilot’s Licence and was 46 years old. His total flying experience was 189 hours, of which 127 hours were on the Cessna U206G type. In the last 90 days he had flown 8 hours, and in the last 28 days, 5 hours.
Probable Cause
The pilot attributed the accident to flaring too high during the approach, which led to the bounce that he was unable to control.