What happened
On 13 December 1998, a Piper PA-28-180, registration G-OIBO, was involved in a ground incident at Wellesbourne Mountford Airport in Warwickshire. During a private flight, the pilot performed an external inspection before taxiing for departure. As the aircraft began to move, the pilot noted a resistance to movement and a tendency to pull toward the left, which was corrected using the right rudder.
Shortly after the taxi commenced, Air Traffic Control (ATC) instructed the pilot to halt because a rope was still connected to the left wing. Upon stopping, the pilot discovered that the left tie-down weight had not been removed from the aircraft. After clearing the weight from the taxiway, the pilot attempted to continue the taxi; however, following an audible 'clunk' sound, the pilot aborted the flight and returned to the parking area.
The investigation
An investigation into the incident focused on the mechanical state of the aircraft following the unusual noise heard during taxiing. Upon a detailed inspection of the aircraft at the parking stand, it was established that the bolts responsible for securing the left main landing gear attachments had become loose.
Findings
- The aircraft's left main landing gear attachments suffered substantial damage.
- The incident was caused by the pilot's failure to remove the left tie-down weight during the pre-flight preparations, despite having conducted an external inspection.