What happened
On 9 April 2008, an Ikarus C42 FB100, registration G-EDEE, was conducting a private flight from a landing strip near Newark to Sutton Meadows Airfield in Cambridgeshire. After an initial leg to Beccles, the aircraft proceeded toward its destination. Upon arriving overhead at Sutton Meadows, the pilot identified Runway 24 as the most suitable direction via the windsock but was advised to use Runway 28. The pilot entered a right-hand circuit and commenced the final approach with two stages of flap extended.
During the final stages of the approach, at an altitude of approximately 15 ft, the aircraft experienced an unexpected pitch-up. The pilot responded by pushing the control column forward to correct the attitude. While this maneuver successfully pitched the aircraft down, the resulting descent rate was too high to maintain sufficient clearance. Consequently, the aircraft struck the runway on its nose wheel, causing the gear to collapse. The propeller made contact with the grass surface, leading to engine stoppage, though the aircraft came to a halt shortly thereafter. There were no injuries to the pilot or the passenger.
The investigation
The investigation examined the flight sequence and the environmental conditions at the time of the accident. The crew reported that the flight had been stable with no significant turbulence or gusty conditions noted during the approach. The investigation focused on the sudden aerodynamic change that occurred just before touchdown and the subsequent mechanical failure of the landing gear assembly.