What happened
On 14 April 2005, a Vans RV-9A, registration G-CCZT, was performing a private flight at Bicester Airfield in Oxfordshire. During the landing phase on Runway 13, the aircraft was operating on a damp grass surface with a light easterly wind. The pilot initially described the landing as very acceptable; however, while rolling out, the pilot applied slight back pressure to the control column to prevent weight from transferring to the nose wheel.
As the aircraft's speed reduced to approximately 30 knots, it encountered uneven terrain. The aircraft pitched into a surface undulation, causing the nut located at the base of the nose landing gear to dig into the soft ground. This impact resulted in the bending of the nose landing gear leg. There were no injuries to the pilot or the passenger on board.
The investigation
Investigators examined the aircraft and the landing area at Bicester Airfield. The investigation established that the airfield is primarily a gliding site and utilizes unlicensed grass runways that lack edge markings. The pilot noted that the ground in the specific area of the incident was soft and that the airfield is known to have bumpy sections.
The pilot, who had limited experience on this specific aircraft type, noted that the incident was influenced by his landing technique. Specifically, the pilot had not applied enough back pressure to keep the nose wheel unloaded for an adequate duration. Furthermore, the pilot acknowledged a lack of familiarity with the specific terrain characteristics of the airfield, particularly regarding which areas of the grass runway were prone to undulations.