What happened
On 22 May 2009, a Vans RV-9A, registration G-HUMH, was conducting a private flight when it experienced an accident during the landing phase at Shoreham Airport, Sussex. While performing a normal approach to Runway 2 and attempting the flare, the aircraft made contact with the ground earlier than the pilot had intended.
The aircraft subsequently bounced across the grass runway surface multiple times. During this sequence, the aircraft tipped forward onto its nose, resulting in the collapse of the nose landing gear and a propeller strike. The engine also sustained shock-loading as a result of the impact.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the circumstances surrounding the touchdown and the condition of the runway surface. It was established that the aircraft's unexpected contact with the ground was triggered by an unseen undulation present on the grass runway surface at Shoreham. There were no injuries to the pilot or the single passenger on board during the incident.