The following causes and fixes are worth considering.
| Cause | Fix | Comment | |
| 1 | Center of gravity too far forward. | Move the C of G aft, commensurate with adequate stability in the pitch axis. | The further forward the C of G, the greater the static and dynamic loading on the nosewheel. Although typically, forward Centers of Gravity mean more stability in the pitch axis, there is no need to overdo this. |
| 2 | Too much energy in the aircraft at wheels down. i.e. landing too fast. | Use elevator trim on the landing approach to reduce air speed before wheels down. | If the aircraft's air speed is too great on landing then the attitude of the aircraft will almost certainly be nose down. This is the worst possible case and will write off a nosewheel in no time. |
| 3 | Sink speed is too fast. | Use throttle carefully so that descent is gradual on finals. | |
| 4 | Nosewheel strength inadequate. | Replace the nosewheel with a more robust unit. | Sometimes the units which come with ARTF kits are not robust enough for the job. |
| 5 | Failure to flair the aeroplane at wheels down. | Correct use of elevator and elevator trim, ensuring slow air speed and good flair. | At wheels down, and during the flair, the aircraft's attitude should be slightly nose up. This achieves several things. |
| 1. Slow air speed and therefore minimum potential energy in the aeroplane at wheels down, i.e. kinder to the undercarriage. | |||
| 2. The mains take the first forces of landing, so protecting the more delicate design of the nosewheel. | |||
| 3. The nosewheel is the last wheel down i.e. after the mains have taken the main landing forces and after the aeroplane has decelerated even further. Handled well, there is hardly any force for the nosewheel to take. | |||
| 6 | Model aircraft heavier than the original plan, C of G in the correct place. | Strengthen the nosewheel | Although unusual, this can occur if aircraft has been extensively modified, e.g. larger engine fitted, heavier covering used, extensive scale detail applied etc. |
| 7 | Model aircraft heavier than the original plan, and nose heavy, i.e. forward C of G | Strengthen the nosewheel, and correct the C of G with tail ballast. Consider increasing elevator area and/or throws. | The tailplane elevator configuration will probably not have been designed for the increased weight and forward CG config. And this could mean that final flair of the model over the landing strip cannot be reached, even with full up elevator, forcing nose down landings. This coupled with the extra force already present on the nosewheel due to the forward CG means more nosewheel and undercarriage damage are likely . |
