AAIB investigation to Slingsby T67B Firefly, G-BLPI
Nosewheel detached when the aircraft bounced on landing, RAF Wyton, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, 4 July 2018.
Summary:
After completing several successful touch-and-go landings with his instructor, the student was flying solo on a circuit consolidation flight. He reported that the aircraft hit a bump on the runway and that the second touchdown resulted in the nosewheel detaching. The propeller struck the ground and the aircraft came to rest on the runway.
The instructor reported that the approach appeared normal, but the aircraft became airborne momentarily just after touchdown. He stated that the nose pitched down and the nosewheel detached when it hit the runway.
A video of the accident showed that the aircraft bounced twice before pitching nose-down and striking the runway nosewheel-first.
The student reported that the event “happened extremely quickly” and he was unable to recall his exact actions. He stated that the aircraft struck the ground and the nosewheel detached before he could initiate a go-around.
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