What happened
On 19 June 2011, a modified Rans S6-ESD XL Coyote II, registration G-MZOZ, was performing a private flight when it experienced an incident during landing at Sywell Airfield, Northampton. Following a standard touchdown on Runway 21, the pilot attempted to vacate the runway quickly by applying heavy braking.
As the aircraft decelerated to a speed below 15 mph, the nose landing gear collapsed. The pilot reported that the aircraft encountered a significant undulation in the grass runway surface. The resulting impact caused damage to the nose cone, the nose leg, and the propeller hub. Both occupants were wearing appropriate safety harnesses and escaped the incident without injury.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. Investigators examined the sequence of events leading to the gear failure and the condition of the runway surface. The inquiry established that the aircraft was operating on a grass runway at the time of the incident. The investigation focused on the interaction between the heavy braking application, the aircraft's movement over the uneven terrain, and the structural integrity of the nose gear assembly.