What happened
On 5 April 2013, a Cirrus SR22, registration N450CD, was conducting a private flight from Little Cayman to Grand Cayman. Upon arrival at Owen Roberts Airport, the pilot transitioned from an IFR flight plan to visual procedures. While flying a left-hand downwind circuit for Runway 08, the pilot's positioning was approximately half a mile closer to the runway threshold than usual due to the local coastline geography.
During the landing phase, the aircraft touched down on the eastern end of Runway 26/08. The aircraft bounced twice before the pilot applied power to initiate a go-around. While the pilot did not immediately notice any issues and reported normal engine performance, an aircraft holding on the runway observed debris falling from the landing aircraft, which was later identified as the nosewheel spat. Following a request from the tower to perform a fly-by for inspection, the pilot found no visible issues with the gear and completed a successful landing.
The investigation
Investigators examined the aircraft and the circumstances of the touchdown. It was established that the propeller tips had sustained heavy bending during the second bounce of the landing sequence. Additionally, the nosewheel spat had detached from the aircraft during the impact. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's flight path and the wind conditions, which were recorded as 240/10 knots at the time of touchdown.
Findings
- The landing was characterized by a high touchdown speed of 85 kt, significantly exceeding the target speed of 70 kt.
- The pilot's attempt to land short of the threshold to clear the coastline resulted in a nosewheel-first impact.
- The propeller strike occurred during the second bounce of the aircraft.
- There were no fatalities or injuries to the two occupants on board.