AAIB investigation to Reims Cessna FA152 Aerobat, G-BFRV
Veered off runway on landing, Shoreham Airport, 5 March 2014.
Summary:
Following an uneventful flight, the pilot was cleared for a touch-and-go on Runway 20 (asphalt) at Shoreham. The surface wind was reported as 190° at 5 kt. At 500 ft the pilot selected full flap and the aircraft crossed the runway threshold at about 65 kt airspeed. He pulled the throttles back to idle at touchdown but, as he reached down to retract the flaps, the aircraft veered to the left of the centreline, and he was unable to correct with rudder inputs. The airspeed at this point was between 35 and 40 kt. The aircraft left the runway onto waterlogged grass into which the left wheel immediately dug in. This caused the aircraft to spin around and, as the nosewheel became embedded in mud, stop abruptly and the right wing contacted the ground.
The aircraft came to rest, upright, about 5 m from the edge of the runway. The Shoreham rescue and firefighting service attended the scene by which time the pilot, who had been wearing a full harness, had vacated the aircraft unhurt.
Download report:
(133.27 kb)