Accident Overview
On 22 May 2012 at 1530 hrs, a Pulsar XP aircraft, registration G-BUZB, experienced a landing gear failure while landing on a 500 m long grass airstrip near Lymm, Cheshire. The flight was conducted under private operations with a single pilot and no passengers. The pilot was uninjured and vacated the aircraft normally.
Aircraft and Pilot Information
The aircraft, a Pulsar XP, was manufactured in 1993 and powered by one Rotax 912 piston engine. The pilot held a National Private Pilot’s Licence, was 44 years old, and had accumulated 199 total flying hours, of which 7 were on type. In the preceding 90 days, the pilot had flown 15 hours, with 5 hours in the last 28 days.
Landing Sequence
The airstrip was oriented east-west with a westerly surface wind of about 10 kt, as indicated by the windsock blowing directly along the strip. During touchdown, the left landing gear appeared to receive a small ‘thump’. The aircraft then rolled to an abrupt stop in approximately half the usual landing distance, during which it pitched forward onto its nose. The propeller broke and the engine, which was at idle power, stopped.
Damage
The accident resulted in damage to the left landing gear, propeller, and fuselage underside.
Investigation
Examination revealed that the left landing gear leg had failed, causing the wheel to no longer track correctly. The pilot surmised that the leg had been subject to an undetected sideways load or that the wheel had caught a rut or hole at touchdown. However, there had been no appreciable crosswind, and a strip inspection revealed no obvious irregularities.
© Crown copyright 2012