History of the Flight
On 1 August 2000, at approximately 1320 UTC, a Europa XS (registration G-ROOV) was conducting circuit training at Kemble Airfield, Cirencester. The aircraft had recently been modified from a monowheel to a tricycle landing gear configuration and had completed approximately twenty landings since the conversion. The flight was crewed by a pilot (the owner) undergoing conversion training and an instructor. The first three circuits were uneventful. On the fourth circuit, a powered approach with flaps was made, and the instructor demonstrated a sideslip from a high approach. The owner then took control for landing, touching down normally with the mainwheels first. As the pilot lowered the nosewheel, a loud bang was heard and the nose dropped suddenly. The nosewheel was observed departing ahead of the aircraft. The instructor took control, raised the nose leg to clear the runway, and steered onto the grass to minimize damage. As speed decreased, the nose leg dropped back onto the runway and scraped along for about 30 metres before the aircraft came to rest on the right edge of the runway. The shutdown checks were completed and the aircraft was evacuated normally. The aircraft sustained damage to the nose landing gear, propeller, spinner, and lower engine cowl. There were no injuries to the occupants.
Investigation
Inspection revealed that the nosewheel fork had detached from the nose leg due to an overload failure of the weld between the nose leg and the fork. Enquiries indicated one other similar failure of a Europa nose landing gear had occurred. The nose landing gear leg assembly was supplied by the manufacturer with this joint pre-welded. The manufacturer conducted metallurgical tests on a new assembly, which showed poor weld penetration at the joint. Based on this finding, the manufacturer modified the joint design by adding gusset plates and additional weld beads to increase strength. Modification Number 57 was issued, containing instructions for incorporating these changes to all existing tricycle-gear Europas. The manufacturer considers the modification mandatory and recommends completion within five flying hours, though it does not have legal mandatory status unless enforced by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). The manufacturer distributed copies to affected owners in the UK and abroad. The Popular Flying Association (PFA) issued a caution letter recommending that owners not fly until the modification is accomplished. PFA Inspectors were notified to verify accomplishment at the next annual airworthiness inspection.
Safety Recommendation
The AAIB issued Safety Recommendation 2000-47 to the CAA and PFA, recommending that appropriate action be taken to ensure Europa Modification 57 is expeditiously accomplished on all affected aircraft, and that the CAA formally advise airworthiness authorities in countries outside the UK where tricycle-gear Europas are operated.