What happened
On 17 February 2007, an Easy Raider J2.2(1), registration G-OESY, was conducting a private cross-country flight from Plaistows airfield to Stoke Airfield on the Isle of Grain. The weather at the time featured visibility exceeding 10 km, scattered clouds above 1,000 feet, and a light south-south-westerly wind of 7 to 10 knots.
During the approach to Runway 24L, the pilot maintained an airspeed roughly 10 mph above standard levels to compensate for the light crosswind from the left. While attempting to avoid sink over a hangar located near the end of the runway, the pilot flew a curved final approach characterized by a steeper descent angle and higher speed than usual. This resulted in a late flare and a heavy landing where all three wheels contacted the grass runway simultaneously. Following the impact, the pilot taxied the aircraft to a stop and shut down the engine.
The investigation
The investigation, prompted by the accident report submitted by the pilot, focused on the structural integrity of the aircraft's landing gear. Examination of the G-OESY revealed significant damage to the left main landing gear structure. Specifically, the inspection identified a broken crosstube and a bent longeron tube.
Findings
- The landing was heavy due to the pilot's attempt to manage the descent angle and airspeed.
- The pilot's decision to maintain a higher speed and a steeper approach to avoid obstacles led to an insufficient flare.
- There were no injuries to the pilot or the passenger during the event.