What happened
On July 6, 2013, a Grumman American Aviation AA-5 Traveler, registration G-BIWW, was conducting a pleasure flight from the Pons-Avy airfield. The aircraft, operated by a local flying club, was carrying the pilot and three passengers.
During the landing phase, the pilot encountered turbulence while performing the flare. This instability forced the pilot to adjust the approach, resulting in the aircraft touching down approximately 200 meters past the runway threshold. Upon the main gear making contact with the runway, the pilot released back-pressure on the controls. This action caused the nose gear to collapse, leading the aircraft to slide approximately 30 meters before coming to a halt on its fuselage. The incident resulted in no fatalities, though the propeller sustained damage.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the mechanical failure of the nose gear and the pilot's handling of the aircraft during the landing flare. Investigators performed a visual inspection of the nose gear assembly, which revealed a static failure of the gear leg. Analysis of the propeller showed that the tips of both blades were bent backward, indicating the engine was producing low power at the time of impact.
Technical review of the flight conditions noted that the wind was from 020° to 050° at 8 to 10 knots, with gusts reaching 18 to 20 knots. The pilot, an experienced flight instructor with 1,350 total flight hours, had relatively limited experience on this specific type, with only 10 hours logged. The investigation also reviewed the aircraft's flight manual, which allows pilots to increase approach speeds to account for crosswinds or gusty conditions.
Findings
- The pilot's approach speed was high, and the presence of turbulence and crosswinds made the flare phase particularly difficult.
- The primary cause of the accident was inappropriate control inputs following the main gear touchdown, which subjected the nose gear to excessive lateral loads.
- The pilot's limited experience on the Grumman American Aviation AA-5 Traveler may have contributed to the improper handling of the aircraft during the landing sequence.