Accident
On 21 April 2010 at 1645 hours UTC, a Flight Design CTSW light aircraft, registration G-CENE, experienced an accident during landing at Barton Airport, Manchester. The aircraft was returning from a four-leg day trip. The wind was from a north-westerly direction at 12 kt, slightly gusty.
Aircraft Information
The aircraft was a Flight Design CTSW, manufactured in 2007. It was powered by a single Rotax 912 ULS piston engine. The nose landing gear collapsed during the landing roll.
Pilot Information
The commander held a Private Pilot’s Licence and was 63 years old. He had accumulated 548 hours total flying experience, with 82 hours on the type. In the previous 90 days, he had flown 8 hours, and in the last 28 days, 6 hours.
Sequence of Events
The pilot made a normal approach to Runway 27L. Just before touchdown, he noticed the aircraft drifting toward the left edge of the runway. He applied rudder to correct the drift. The aircraft touched down initially on the main landing gear, then bounced. It continued drifting at low speed into longer grass at the left edge of the runway. The nose landing gear contacted the runway surface and immediately collapsed, and the aircraft came to rest. The pilot shut down the aircraft normally.
Aftermath
Both occupants were uninjured and exited the aircraft without difficulty. The pilot later considered that he should have performed a go-around when the drift began, as correcting the drift had diverted his attention from the flare and touchdown. He also thought the aircraft touched down in a slightly flat attitude and that the control column may have been moved forward during the bounce. No official probable cause was identified by the investigation.