What happened
On 22 June 1999, a Gulfstream AA-5B, registration G-BIPV, was conducting a private flight from Lydd Airfield to Bournemouth International Airport. The meteorological conditions at the time of the incident were CAVOK with a 10-knot wind from 240 degrees.
While approaching Runway 26, the pilot was following a Puma helicopter. To increase the separation between the two aircraft, the pilot performed an orbit before establishing a final approach at 3 nautical miles. The approach was stable, with the PAPI lights indicating a correct glide path. Due to traffic following behind, the pilot decided to land and vacate the runway at the intersection with Runway 17, which reduced the available landing distance to 832 metres.
Just before touchdown, the pilot selected full flaps. This configuration change caused a trim adjustment that the pilot was unable to compensate for in time. Consequently, the aircraft struck the runway heavily on all three wheels. The aircraft bounced back into the air before the nosewheel collapsed, causing the propeller to strike the runway surface.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. Investigators examined the sequence of the landing, the aircraft's configuration, and the impact with the runway surface. The inspection confirmed that the nosewheel had collapsed and the engine had been shock loaded due to the impact.
Findings
- The aircraft landed with significant force on all landing gear.
- The pilot failed to correct a trim change following the selection of full flaps prior to landing.
- The landing was performed on a shortened runway distance of 832 metres due to the decision to vacate at an intersection.