What happened
On 9 August 2012, a Piper PA-3-112 Tomahawk, registration G-BOHU, was performing a private flight as part of a multi-leg journey originating from Swansea. During the flight, the pilot and a second qualified pilot were alternating the role of pilot-in-command for each leg of the trip. Upon arriving at Elstree Aerodrome in Hertfordshire, the pilot attempted to land on Runway 08.
After two unsuccessful approach attempts, the pilot initiated a third approach. During this final attempt, the aircraft touched down at a speed exceeding the intended target. This high-speed contact triggered a sharp leftward yaw that the pilot could not counteract. As the aircraft veered, the nosewheel left the paved runway surface, leading to the collapse of the nose landing gear and resulting in damage to the propeller. There were no injuries to the two occupants, and both were able to exit the aircraft without assistance.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. Investigators examined the environmental conditions and the aircraft's performance during the landing sequence. At the time of the accident, weather conditions were favorable, with light, variable winds of less than 5 kt. The runway used was 651 m long and 20 m wide, featuring a 1.3% downslope.
Findings
- The pilot had experienced difficulty maintaining the required approach speed during the landing sequence.
- The primary cause of the accident was the aircraft touching down at a speed higher than intended, which induced an uncontrollable left yaw.
- The departure of the nosewheel from the paved surface directly led to the structural failure of the nose landing gear and subsequent propeller damage.