What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2005-06-07 involved a Europa (Tri-gear variant), registration G-PUDS, at Curry Rivel, Somerset, GB.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The nose wheel fork assembly detached due to a simple overload failure of the attachment shaft, likely caused by a loose fit between the shaft and the fork which subjected the pin to shear loads.

Nose gear failure leads to landing accident in Somerset

A Europa aircraft sustained damage after its nose wheel assembly detached during a landing at a farm strip in Somerset.

What happened

On 7 June 2005, a Europa (registration G-PUDS) was performing a private flight to Curry Rivel, Somerset. The aircraft had recently been purchased and was undergoing a ferry flight following engine repairs conducted at a different airfield in Herefordshire. During the flight, the pilot encountered a sudden rise in engine temperature, necessitating a precautionary landing at a nearby farm strip.

Upon arrival at the Somerset site, the pilot discovered that the electrically operated flaps were non-functional. During the subsequent landing attempt, a gust of wind caused a firm touchdown. As the aircraft rolled out, the nose gear collapsed, causing the aircraft to come to rest at the side of the runway. The impact resulted in damage to the propeller, the nose landing gear, and the underside of the fuselage. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, was uninjured.

The investigation

Investigators examined the nose landing gear components and the aircraft's structural integrity. The investigation focused on the attachment mechanism of the nose wheel fork assembly to the landing gear leg. The examination revealed that the rolled steel pin used to secure the shaft had suffered shear failures. Additionally, the shaft itself showed significant distortion and cracks emanating from a secondary hole that had been drilled through the component during construction.

Further inspection of the aircraft's electrical system identified an unlabelled toggle switch on the centre console that acted as an isolation switch for the flaps. This modification was not documented in the aircraft's official build manual. The investigation also noted that the nose wheel and fork assembly were not found at the accident site, suggesting the component may have detached during the takeoff from the previous airfield in Herefordshire.

Findings

The primary cause of the gear collapse was an overload failure of the shaft that secured the nose wheel fork to the landing gear leg.
The failure was likely triggered by fore-and-aft loads acting on the shaft, which were exacerbated by a loose fit between the shaft and the fork assembly.
The presence of an extra, non-standard hole drilled into the shaft may have contributed to the structural weakness of the component.
The nose wheel assembly likely became detached during or shortly after the takeoff from the Herefordshire airstrip, rather than during the landing in Somerset.