What happened
On 11 August 2012, a CZAW Sportcruiser, registration G-CFNV, was participating in a private flight. Following a successful landing on Runway 11 at Skegness Airfield, Lincolnshire, the pilot began taxiing the aircraft toward parking via Runway 03. While the aircraft was moving at a walking pace, the lower portion of the nose leg suddenly failed. This structural failure caused the aircraft to pitch forward onto its nose. The impact resulted in the shattering of the propeller, though the engine remained operational for a short time before the pilot deactivated the ignition and evacuated the cockpit. There were no injuries to the pilot or the single passenger on board.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the accident report submitted by the pilot. Physical examination of the aircraft focused on the nose gear assembly. Investigators discovered that the nose leg had suffered a fracture at its lower end. The specific location of this break was noted to be an area that was difficult to access for a detailed inspection. Additionally, the investigation identified evidence of pre-existing cracks on the surface of the fracture, suggesting the structural integrity of the component had been compromised prior to the taxiing incident. The airfield surface at the time of the event was described as smooth and level grass.