What happened
On 6 September 1998, a Rans S6-116, registration G-IZIT, was performing a private flight at Southend Airport in Essex. The flight was conducted under favorable weather conditions. Upon completing a standard landing, the aircraft experienced a sudden mechanical failure involving the right main landing gear. Specifically, the stub axle failed, which subsequently caused the aircraft to depart from the runway surface.
The impact resulted in substantial damage to both the propeller and the right main landing gear. There were two crew members on board at the time of the incident, and neither sustained any injuries.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage and the circumstances surrounding the landing. The investigation focused on the integrity of the landing gear assembly and the operational history of the aircraft. It was noted that the pilot had 280 total flying hours, though only 6 of those hours had been completed on this specific aircraft type.
Evidence emerged regarding the previous usage of the aircraft. The investigation established that the aircraft had been operated at consistently high all-up weights by a prior owner. This historical usage was a key focus in determining why the stub axle failed during a normal landing procedure.
Findings
- The primary cause of the runway excursion was the failure of the stub axle on the right main landing gear.
- It is probable that the failure resulted from cumulative damage sustained over a significant period.
- This damage was likely a consequence of the aircraft being operated at high all-up weights during its previous period of ownership.