What happened
On 22 July 2013, a Luscombe 8A Silvaire, registration G-BSNT, was engaged in a private flight from Farthing Corner Airfield in Kent. During the takeoff sequence, the pilot performed the necessary pre-flight power checks before beginning the takeoff run. However, the pilot noted that the engine performance was not meeting expectations. Following a second bounce during the takeoff roll, the pilot decided to abort the procedure.
As the aircraft came to a halt, it landed with significant force. This heavy impact resulted in damage to the engine cowling, the left wing tips, and the left landing gear. There were no injuries to the pilot or the single passenger on board.
The investigation
Following the incident, the AAIB examined the aircraft's components to determine the cause of the landing gear damage. The investigation focused on the left stub-axle, which had sheared off during the heavy landing. Upon inspection, investigators discovered that the failure occurred near a weld point. The examination revealed that the stub-axle exhibited signs of corrosion and a pre-existing crack that appeared to have been present for a considerable period prior to the accident.