Incident Overview
On 27 August 2008, at 1637 hours UTC, a Mooney M20E registration N7423V experienced a collapse of its nose landing gear during the landing roll at Old Sarum Airfield. The aircraft, manufactured in 1975, was powered by a single Lycoming IO-360-AIA piston engine. The private flight had two persons on board—one pilot and one passenger—and no injuries were reported.
Flight Details
The pilot, aged 50, held a Private Pilot's Licence with a total flying experience of 380 hours, of which only 5 hours were on the Mooney M20E type. In the 90 days preceding the accident, he had flown 5 hours, all within the last 28 days. The flight was a normal approach to Runway 24, which is a single grass runway oriented 06/24. The reported wind at the time was from 220 degrees at 8 knots, providing a headwind component.
Landing and Gear Collapse
The pilot executed a normal, full-flap approach and confirmed that three green landing gear indicator lights were showing. Air traffic control also reported that all three landing gear were visibly extended. The touchdown was described as normal, except that it occurred well short of the usual aiming point. During the landing roll, the nose gear collapsed, and the aircraft slid to a halt with its nose on the ground.
Post-Accident Observations
The pilot later noted that, with nearly full fuel tanks and two occupants weighing a combined total of approximately 455 pounds, the aircraft was considerably heavier than on any previous landing he had performed in it. Additionally, the wind conditions constituted the lowest headwind in which he had landed the aircraft. No evidence of any pre-existing defect on the nose landing gear that could have caused its collapse was found during subsequent enquiries by the AAIB.
Damage
The nose gear, nose gear doors, propeller, and engine lower cowl sustained damage, and the engine was shock loaded.