What happened
On 24 July 2013, a Vans RV-9A, registration G-CGXR, was performing a private flight at Carlisle Airport in Cumbria. During the landing phase on Runway 25, the aircraft experienced a sudden failure of the nose landing gear. The pilot had executed a standard approach into the airfield under favorable weather conditions, characterized by light westerly winds. However, during the flare, the aircraft was brought down with excessive height, leading to a heavy touchdown and a subsequent bounce. This impact caused the nosewheel to collapse, forcing the aircraft onto the runway. The pilot managed to bring the aircraft to a complete stop on the runway, and both the pilot and the single passenger were able to exit the aircraft without injury.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. Investigators examined the sequence of the landing, focusing on the flight path and the physical impact of the aircraft with the runway surface. The examination established that the aircraft's descent rate during the flare was too high, which directly led to the structural failure of the nose gear assembly. The damage sustained by the aircraft included the nose landing gear, the propeller, and the engine mount.