AAIB investigation to Cyclone AX3/503, G-MZEL
Heavy landing, Causeway Airfield, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, 19 January 2019.
Summary:
During the takeoff from grass Runway 16, the windsock was indicating a wind speed of less than 5 mph. Once at circuit height, the pilot decided to abort the flight due to low cloud and rain. During the circuit the pilot estimated the wind to be 120° at 15 mph.
The approach back onto Runway 16 was uneventful until about 40 ft agl when the aircraft encountered “severe sink”. The pilot applied full power but was unable to arrest the descent rate before the aircraft touched down heavily on the main gear. The aircraft bounced back into air, with a nose-up attitude, to a height of about 15 ft. It then pitched down and struck the grass runway in a nose-down attitude causing severe damage to the nose of the aircraft and cockpit area. Although both the pilot and passenger were wearing full harnesses, the pilot suffered fractured vertebrae, elbow, wrist, thumb, and the passenger suffered fractures to both legs.
The pilot advised that the seat cushions were made from standard low-density upholstery foam, which met the airworthiness requirements applicable to the aircraft design. The AAIB notes that the use of modern, energy-absorbing foam may have reduced the severity of the injuries the occupants received.
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