What happened
On 31 May 2013, a modified Laser Z200, registration G-VILL, was performing a private flight near Lewes, Sussex. The pilot had been conducting aerobatic practice for approximately 30 minutes and was attempting to return to Swanborough Farm Airstrip. During the landing sequence on Runway 24, the aircraft experienced a sudden mechanical failure immediately upon touchdown.
As the aircraft made contact with the runway, the right mainwheel detached from the landing gear leg. This caused the aircraft to pitch forward and yaw toward the right, resulting in a cartwheel motion. The aircraft came to a halt roughly 3/4 of a mile from the touchdown point. The pilot was able to exit the aircraft through the canopy without injury, though the aircraft was subsequently damaged beyond economic repair.
The investigation
Investigators located the missing wheel and brake assembly a significant distance to the left of the runway. The proximity of the wheel's position to the touchdown point suggested that the component had likely separated from the aircraft at the moment of landing.
Upon inspecting the landing gear strut, investigators discovered that the threads of all four bolts responsible for securing the wheel and brake mechanism to the strut had been stripped. At the time of the report, the specific reason for the degradation of these threads had not been determined, and the components were awaiting further analysis by the Light Aircraft Association (LAA).