What happened
On 13 July 2004, a Rans S6-ES, registration G-BZLE, was conducting a private flight in Buckinghamshire. Following a routine flight to Shottleswell, Oxfordshire, the pilot returned to Haddenham to land on the grass runway. The weather was favorable, characterized by good visibility and a light westerly wind.
Because the initial approach to the airfield was too high, the pilot opted to perform several circuits and landings. While the first three touch-and-go maneuvers were completed without issue, the aircraft encountered difficulty during the fourth and final landing attempt. During this landing, which the pilot described as a normal operation, the nose landing gear collapsed. The aircraft subsequently slid across the grass surface before coming to a gentle stop. There were no injuries to the pilot or the passenger on board.
The investigation
Following the incident, the aircraft sustained damage including a cracked exhaust pipe and breakage to the fiberglass on the nose and front fuselage. The nose landing gear was inspected by a repair organization that also serves as the sole agent for this specific kit plane model. This organization possesses significant experience in repairing similar structural damage.
Findings
- The investigation determined that the collapse of the nose gear was not caused by any pre-existing mechanical defect.
- The failure was instead consistent with the gear being subjected to excessive loading during the landing sequence.