What happened
On 7 June 2008, a Vans RV-6A, registration G-RVPW, was conducting a private flight when it experienced an incident during the landing phase at Netherthorpe Airfield, South Yorkshire. As the aircraft was decelerating at approximately 25 knots following touchdown, the nosewheel encountered a patch of soft ground. This caused the nose landing gear to collapse, resulting in the aircraft tipping forward onto its nose.
The impact caused damage to the propeller, the engine, and the forward section of the fuselage. The impact also resulted in a shock load to the engine. There were two people on board, the pilot and one passenger; neither individual sustained any injuries during the event, and both were able to exit the aircraft without assistance.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report form provided by the pilot. The inquiry focused on the condition of the landing area and the sequence of the gear collapse. The investigation established that the primary trigger for the gear failure was the nosewheel digging into the soft surface of the airfield during the deceleration phase of the landing roll.