What happened
On 17 July 2005, a Tri Kis, registration G-BVTA, was conducting a private flight at Dunkeswell, Devon. During the approach to Runway 23, the pilot executed a landing that was described as slightly firm, which resulted in a small bounce. After the aircraft had taxied for roughly 50 yards, the main undercarriage collapsed rearwards. This failure caused the aircraft to come to a halt in a nose-up position. The incident resulted in no injuries to the pilot, though the aircraft sustained minor damage to its fuselage and undercarriage.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the structural integrity of the landing gear attachment points. It was established that the collapse occurred because two forward undercarriage securing bolts and their associated washers pulled through the fiberglass structure. The pilot, who had constructed the aircraft from a kit imported from the United States, confirmed that the assembly of the undercarriage had been performed in accordance with the designer's original plans.
Findings
- The primary cause of the undercarriage failure was the pulling through of the securing bolts and washers from the fiberglass airframe.
- The structural failure was triggered by the impact of a firm landing and subsequent bounce.
- The aircraft's construction followed the manufacturer's assembly instructions.