AAIB investigation to Ikarus C42 FB80, G-CEAK
Loss of forward visibility and sink during landing, Ince Airfield, Merseyside, 8 July 2017.
Summary:
The aircraft was flown from Manchester Barton Airfield to Ince Airfield, Merseyside. The pilot was familiar with Ince and made an approach to Runway 29 which is 440 m in length and 20 m in width. The final approach is across an open arable field and at the time of the accident it was growing a crop of potatoes.
The pilot noticed that an irrigation sprinkler was operating in the field to the north of the approach path but considered that it was not in the way. When the aircraft was on short final, the windscreen was suddenly sprayed with water, removing the view ahead, and the aircraft sank down short of the runway. The left main wheel caught in the crop and the left wing support strut detached. The aircraft continued rolling towards Runway 29, across a ditch, whereupon the left landing gear leg detached. The aircraft ran onto the runway surface, before coming to a stop. There were no injuries to either occupant.
The airfield operator reported that the sprinkler system had not previously been used near the airfield. They considered that it did not represent a hazard unless an aircraft was low on the approach.
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