What happened
On 19 October 2004, a Zenair CH 601HD Zodiac, registration G-BVZR, was performing a private flight when it was involved in an accident during landing at Nottingham Airport. The weather conditions at the time included an overcast ceiling of 2,000 ft, light drizzle, and a 10-knot wind from 160°, which had left the runway surface damp.
As the pilot approached Runway 2/1, they established a three-point attitude for touchdown. To manage the crosswind component, the pilot initially directed the aircraft slightly to the left of the runway centerline. Upon touchdown, the aircraft experienced a minor yaw to the left. In an attempt to correct this, the pilot applied right rudder; however, this resulted in a sudden and severe swing to the right. The momentum of the swing caused the aircraft to rotate approximately 90 degrees. During this maneuver, the side load became so intense that the left undercarriage leg sheared at a weld point, causing the left wing to strike the ground and bringing the aircraft to a halt.
There were no injuries to the pilot or the single passenger on board.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of control inputs and the mechanical failure of the landing gear. The investigators examined the pilot's actions following the initial leftward yaw and the subsequent application of rudder. The physical evidence showed that the left undercarriage leg failed at a specific weld point due to the lateral forces exerted during the rotation. The investigation also considered the inherent handling characteristics of tailwheel-configuration aircraft, noting that the center of gravity is positioned behind the main wheels, which creates a natural tendency for the aircraft to pivot during a swing.