What happened
On 20 November 2006, a Piper PA-28-140 Cherokee, registration G-ZEBY, was conducting a cross-country navigation exercise as part of a student pilot's training. The flight was traveling from Nottingham to Humberside Airport.
During the approach to Runway 21, the student pilot performed what was initially perceived as a standard approach. However, upon touchdown, the aircraft's main wheels made contact first, followed by a firm impact of the nosewheel. This impact caused the aircraft to pitch upward sharply. In an attempt to maintain a level attitude and prevent the nose from dropping, the pilot applied control inputs that resulted in the aircraft pitching down again. During this second descent, the nose landing gear leg made contact with the runway surface, causing the aircraft to yaw to the right before coming to a halt.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage and the circumstances of the landing. An aerodrome fire and rescue service member observed the landing and noted that the aircraft appeared to bounce several times.
Post-accident engineering inspections revealed that the nosewheel oleo was bent and the fork connecting the nosewheel to the aircraft had sheared off. The impact also caused damage to the propeller and the engine. The investigation found no evidence of any mechanical defects existing prior to the accident. The maintenance organization responsible for the repairs confirmed that the structural damage was consistent with the nosewheel making a high-force contact with the runway surface.
Findings
- The primary cause of the structural failure was the nosewheel making firm contact with the runway surface.
- The student pilot may have misjudged the necessary aircraft attitude when attempting to hold the nose off the ground during the bounce.
- The transition from a nose-down approach attitude to the required landing attitude can be difficult for inexperienced pilots to manage.