What happened
On 9 May 2012, a Rans S6-ES Coyote II, registration G-BYCN, was conducting a private local flight along the North Antrim Coast. During the approach to Runway 34 at Causeway Airfield, the pilot deployed full flaps as per standard procedure. The pilot observed that the aircraft's descent rate was lower than anticipated, leading to the belief that the aircraft would land further down the runway than intended. Consequently, the pilot initiated a go-around.
The second approach was completed successfully; however, the aircraft floated further down the runway than usual, resulting in a touchdown on the main wheels with the nosewheel still raised. As the aircraft decelerated to approximately 20-25 mph, it encountered a bump on the runway surface. This impact caused the nose to lift sharply before dropping again. This motion resulted in the bending of the nosewheel fork and caused the propeller blades to strike the grass.
There were no injuries to the pilot or the passenger. The aircraft came to a stop, and both occupants disembarked safely. The incident resulted in damage to the nose landing gear and the propeller.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report form submitted by the pilot. Investigators examined the flight sequence, the runway conditions, and the aircraft's configuration during the landing phase. The pilot noted that the runway surface was bumpy, which he believed contributed to the loss of control during the landing roll.
Findings
- The aircraft touched down with the nosewheel raised due to a long landing caused by a low descent rate.
- The aircraft struck a bump on the runway surface, which caused the nose to pitch upward and then downward.
- The impact of the nose dropping caused the propeller to contact the ground.