What happened
On 6 April 2013, a Jabiru(3), registration G-VNON, was performing a private local flight from a grass airstrip located near Melksham, Wiltshire. During the flight, the pilot encountered turbulent conditions caused by a northerly wind following takeoff, which led to the decision to terminate the flight and return to the airfield.
During the final approach, the pilot utilized two stages of flaps (30°) and increased the approach speed from 50 to 55 kt to manage the significant crosswind. While the pilot initially anticipated a slightly late touchdown due to the aircraft's speed, the aircraft suddenly descended from approximately 10 ft to the airstrip surface. The pilot noted this sudden drop might have been the result of an unexpected wind shift.
As the aircraft progressed halfway along the 500 m strip, it encountered a bump that caused the aircraft to bounce back into the air. Upon the second touchdown, the nose landing gear collapsed, followed by the right landing leg. This caused the aircraft to veer toward the right, though it remained largely upright.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. The examination focused on the sequence of the landing, the atmospheric conditions at the time, and the resulting damage to the G-VNON.
Findings
- The aircraft sustained damage to the propeller, engine mount, landing gear, rudder pedals, and the cockpit floor.
- The pilot was operating with 312 total flying hours, with 163 hours experienced on this specific type.
- The primary factor in the gear collapse was the impact of a bump halfway down the strip which caused the aircraft to bounce and land heavily, leading to the failure of the nose and right landing gear.