What happened
On 14 August 2005, a modified Zenair CH 601HD, registration G-BUTG, was involved in a ground accident near Lewes, East Sussex. The aircraft had completed a successful landing on a wet grass runway and was proceeding to taxi toward a concrete area located near the hangar.
During the taxi, the aircraft struck a small concrete obstacle situated near the edge of the hardstanding. The impact caused the nose landing gear to collapse, leading to damage to the propeller and nosewheel, as well as minor damage to the port wing tip. There were no injuries to the pilot during the incident.
The investigation
The investigation, based on the accident report submitted by the pilot, focused on the visibility of the obstacle and the braking conditions at the time of the event. The pilot noted that the grass surface was wet, which had significantly diminished the effectiveness of the aircraft's brakes.
Furthermore, the investigation established that the concrete obstacle was partially hidden by long grass. This lack of visibility, combined with the reduced braking performance on the damp surface, prevented the pilot from identifying the hazard and taking sufficient evasive action before the collision occurred.