What happened
On August 19, 2001, a privately operated VAN'S RV6, registration EC-YOX, was conducting a flight from Reus to Madrid/Cuatro Vientos under Visual Flight Rules (VFR). The flight crew, consisting of the pilot and one passenger, decided to divert to the Robledillo de Mohernando aerodrome to verify meteorological conditions at their intended destination.
During the landing roll on runway 19, the aircraft experienced a skid. During this maneuver, the right main landing gear leg failed. The aircraft veered off the left side of the runway, coming to a stop approximately one meter from the runway edge. Both occupants were uninjured.
The investigation
Investigators examined tire marks left on the runway surface. The tracks began near the right edge of the runway and moved toward the centerline. The right tire mark was wider than the left, and the track from the right wheel disappeared approximately three meters before the centerline, only to reappear two meters later as the damaged landing gear leg made contact with the ground. The tracks eventually crossed two meters before reaching the left edge of the runway.
Analysis of these marks indicated that the pilot lost control during the landing roll, likely due to an excessive descent rate upon touchdown. In an attempt to correct the aircraft's direction and return to the centerline, the pilot applied heavy braking to the left wheel. This caused the left wheel to lock, initiating a left-hand ground loop. During this rotation, the right landing gear leg broke. As the metallic portion of the gear leg struck the runway, it caused a sudden braking effect that initiated a right-hand ground loop, rotating the aircraft more than 90 degrees.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the loss of aircraft control, likely triggered by an excessive descent rate during touchdown.
- The failure of the right main landing gear leg resulted in damage to the right wing, propeller, and engine mount.
- The pilot's limited flight experience may have contributed to the inability to recover control of the aircraft during the excursion.