What happened
On 29 August 2013, a Jodel D120A Paris-Nice, registration G-BICR, was conducting a training flight at White Waltham Airfield in Berkshire. During the approach, the pilot maintained a glide speed of 55 kt, reducing it to 50 kt as the aircraft reached short final. While the flare was described as normal, the aircraft experienced a sudden event immediately after touchdown.
Following contact with the runway, the aircraft underwent rapid deceleration. After travelling approximately 20 metres, the nose pitched downward and the aircraft skewed heavily to the right. The two crew members on board were uninjured and were able to exit the aircraft through the standard exits.
The investigation
The investigation examined the structural integrity of the landing gear following the incident. Post-flight inspections revealed that the right mainwheel had become detached from the landing gear assembly and was located 5 metres away from the aircraft. The impact caused damage to the right landing gear, the main spar, the propeller, and the cowling.
During the examination, the pilot noted what appeared to be a pre-existing crack in the weld connecting the landing gear leg to the axle. This structural failure caused the mainwheel to detach, leading to the gear digging into the ground and the subsequent uncontrolled rotation and pitch of the aircraft.
Findings
- The aircraft was operating in a training capacity.
- The primary cause of the accident was the detachment of the right mainwheel.
- A suspected pre-existing crack was identified in the weld between the axle and the landing gear leg.