AAIB investigation to Kolb FireFly, G-CEPN

Departure from controlled flight, Luffenhall, Hertfordshire, 20 June 2017.

• From: Air Accidents Investigation Branch
• Published: 8 March 2018

• Category: Sport aviation and balloons
• Report type: Bulletin - Field investigation
• Date of occurrence: 20 June 2017
• Aircraft type: Kolb FireFly
• Location: Near Newell Lane, Luffenhall, Hertfordshire
• Registration: G-CEPN

Summary:

Shortly after takeoff, approximately one mile from the runway, the aircraft was seen to enter a steep descending left turn from which it did not recover before striking the ground vertically. Analysis of CCTV footage confirmed that, immediately before the final manoeuvre, the aircraft’s speed was above the predicted stall speed. The investigation was unable to identify any defect which would have prevented the aircraft from responding normally to the pilot’s control inputs.

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Kolb FireFly, G-CEPN 03-18

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Published 8 March 2018