Right main gear failure during landing at Auxerre Branches

Casualties unknown • FR

A Piper PA 20 sustained significant damage after its right main landing gear collapsed during a landing roll-out affected by a crosswind.

What happened

On July 14, 2014, a Piper PA 20, registration G-BUOI, was conducting a private flight from Meaux-Esbly to Auxerre Branches. Upon arrival, the pilot performed a reconnaissance of the airfield. Estimating a crosswind of approximately 10 knots from 220°, the pilot entered the traffic pattern for runway 19. The aircraft was in landing configuration at a speed of roughly 65 knots, requiring a right wing correction to compensate for the wind.

The pilot executed a three-point landing. During the subsequent landing roll, the aircraft drifted left of the runway centerline. After an initial correction, the aircraft drifted right again. In an attempt to regain the centerline, the pilot applied differential braking in addition to rudder inputs. This maneuver resulted in the failure of the right main landing gear, causing the right wing and propeller to strike the ground. The aircraft then entered a ground loop to the left before coming to a stop on the runway.

The investigation

The investigation focused on the aircraft's stability during the landing roll and the pilot's control inputs. The BEA examined the aircraft's configuration, noting it was a tailwheel type with a steerable tailwheel linked to the rudder pedals. The investigation also reviewed meteorological data, which confirmed a southwest wind of approximately 5 to 10 knots, with gusts up to 9 knots.

Findings

  • The primary cause of the accident was the inappropriate use of differential braking combined with an insufficient accounting for the effects of the crosswind.
  • The aircraft's tendency to drift from the runway centerline was amplified by the pilot's corrective actions.
  • The investigation noted that tailwheel aircraft are inherently unstable during the landing roll because the center of gravity is located behind the main gear. During a turn, centrifugal force and centripetal reaction create a torque that promotes pivoting.
  • The high adhesion of the paved runway increased the centripetal reaction on the wheels, contributing to the loss of directional control.

Probable cause

The loss of directional control and subsequent gear failure were caused by improper differential braking and inadequate compensation for crosswind effects during the landing roll.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2014-07-14 Piper PA 20 accident near FR?

A Piper PA 20 sustained significant damage after its right main landing gear collapsed during a landing roll-out affected by a crosswind.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2014-07-14 involved a Piper PA 20, registration G-BUOI, at FR.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The loss of directional control and subsequent gear failure were caused by improper differential braking and inadequate compensation for crosswind effects during the landing roll.

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