AAIB investigation to Rotorsport UK Calidus, G-GRYN
Loss of control during touchdown, Turweston Aerodrome, Northamptonshire, 3 July 2017.
Summary:
The pilot had not flown for several months and had a total of six hours on type. Having flown for about one hour he returned to land on Runway 27 at Turweston. The wind was from the west-south-west. As the pilot flared the aircraft for touchdown, he realised that he had initiated the manoeuvre too early and that the aircraft was still several feet above the runway and at a low airspeed. He lowered the aircraft’s nose, during which the aircraft yawed and drifted to the right. He applied corrective rudder and control stick inputs, but the aircraft touched down on the right main wheel before rolling onto its right side where it came to a stop.
The pilot stated that it had felt as if the aircraft “had been caught by a gust of wind from the left”, and considered that his lack of recency and experience on type were causal factors in the accident.
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