What happened
On 31 August 2012, a Rans S6-ES Coyote II, registration G-BZBX, was performing a private flight near Beverley Airfield, East Yorkshire. While returning to the airfield following a short local flight, the pilot attempted to land the aircraft. During the landing flare, the pilot closed the throttle to land, which caused the aircraft to drop unexpectedly without the usual nose-high attitude. This sudden sink resulted in a heavy impact on the main landing gear. The aircraft subsequently bounced, and the second touchdown occurred directly on the nose landing gear.
As a result of the impact, the nose landing gear collapsed. This led to the propeller blades, spinner, and engine cowling striking the ground. There were no injuries to the pilot during the incident.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. Investigators examined the sequence of the landing and the pilot's actions during the flare. The pilot noted that the unexpected descent occurred approximately three feet above the runway. The pilot also observed that other pilots operating at the airfield that day had reported experiencing similar unexpected sink rates during their approaches.
Findings
- The primary cause of the damage was the collapse of the nose landing gear following a heavy second touchdown.
- The pilot's decision to close the throttle during the flare contributed to an unexpected loss of altitude and a lack of a nose-high attitude.
- The aircraft sustained damage to the nose landing gear, propeller blades, spinner, and engine cowling.