What happened
On 4 August 2007, a Pegasus XL-Q, registration G-MTTD, was performing a private flight in Langstone, Hampshire. During the landing phase, the pilot utilized a relatively short landing strip, measuring approximately 200 metres in length, which ran north-south and ended at a chain-link fence near the coast path and Langstone Harbour.
As the aircraft was decelerating on the ground, the nose leg collapsed backwards. This structural failure caused the front of the aircraft pod to strike the ground, subsequently resulting in the aircraft tipping onto its right side. The incident occurred during twilight hours under variable wind conditions of less than two knots. There were no injuries to the pilot or the single passenger on board, though the aircraft sustained damage to the wing leading edge, wing battens, the underside of the pod, and the nose leg.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the mechanics of the landing roll and the application of braking. The pilot reported that he had applied the brake lever with significant force to increase deceleration. Following the event, the pilot noted that this braking force may have been excessive, potentially leading to the deformation of the front tyre and the subsequent locking of the wheel, which contributed to the collapse of the nose gear.