What happened
On 4 September 2010, a Pietenpol Air Camper, registration G-OFFA, was involved in an accident at White Waltham Airfield in Berkshire. Following a private flight, the aircraft landed on Runway 11 and began a left turn. After taxiing approximately 50 metres, the right main landing gear leg collapsed. The incident resulted in no injuries to the pilot or the passenger on board, but the aircraft sustained damage to the right landing gear, the propeller, and the venturi.
The investigation
An investigation into the structural failure of the landing gear was conducted. Examination of the landing gear assembly revealed that a ball end located on one of the structural members of the gear had failed. The investigation focused on the mechanical integrity of this specific component to determine why the collapse occurred during a low-speed taxi maneuver.