Independent report

AAIB Record-only investigations reviewed: May – June 2022

Published 11 August 2022

Event Date	Aircraft Type	Registration	Location	Record Only Occurrence Text
31 Dec 2021	Aeronca 7AC	G-BVCS	Leicester Airport	The pilot was taking part in an authorised flour bombing event during which he inexplicably “lost vision momentarily” during an approach towards the target on the ground. Airfield CCTV footage showed the aircraft descend to the ground with no sign of a pull up. Just before the aircraft hit the ground to the right of the target, the flour bomb (released manually from the pilot’s window) was seen ‘exploding’ on the ground. The aircraft was extensively damaged.
25 Feb 2022	Laser Z200 (Modified)	G-BWKT	Solent Airport, Hampshire	During a bounced landing the tailwheel attachment bolt failed causing the tailwheel to detach from its spring leg. It was not possible to determine if the bolt failure was caused by a pre-existing defect as one of the failure surfaces was worn away by ground contact and the other part of the bolt was not found.
09 Mar 2022	Socata TB9	G-BIXB	Shobdon Airfield, Herefordshire	The aircraft encountered turbulent, down-drafting conditions at approximately 50 ft agl on short final. The pilot was unable to correct the induced rate of descent, the aircraft struck a fence and then landed approximately 30 m short of the runway threshold.
15 Mar 2022	Renegade 912	G-BWPE	Ashcroft Airfield, Cheshire	The pilot had collected the new Renegade from Kent and was returning to land at his home field of Ashcroft. Because of unfamiliarity with the Type, having previously flown a Pioneer 200, the aircraft did not continue flaring as he expected, and he landed heavily on the grass runway causing extensive damage to the aircraft.
03 Apr 2022	Pegasus Quik	G-CDGD	Yatesbury Airfield, Wiltshire	During the takeoff roll, the flexwing microlight drifted right and the trike rolled onto its left side.
18 Apr 2022	Vans RV-12	G-CLMA	Weybourne, Norfolk	While climbing following a go-around the pilot encountered control problems. Following an uncommanded roll on flap retraction, he diverted to Norwich Airport where emergency support was available and made an uneventful landing. Subsequent inspection revealed that the outermost rib of the left flaperon was buckled, probably from an undetected impact.
21 Apr 2022	Guimbal Cabri G2	G-SHRU	Wolverhampton Halfpenny Green Airport, Staffordshire	On the fourth touchdown of an Engine Off Landing exercise, the aircraft touched down more nose up than previously. As the aircraft pitched forward onto its skids, the main rotor blades struck the tailboom damaging one rotor blade and the tail rotor drive shaft.
28 Apr 2022	Grob G115E	G-BYVE	Wittering, Cambridgeshire	The student pilot was on their first solo flight. As the aircraft came into land, the pilot flared the aircraft late which resulted in a hard landing during which the aircraft bounced twice and the nosewheel axle bolt failed in overload. The pilot, who was unaware that the nose wheel had detached from the aircraft, flew a go around. During the subsequent landing the lower section of the nose leg collapsed, and the aircraft came to rest on the runway.
03 May 2022	Ikarus C42 FB100	G-FLYC	Durley, Hampshire	The pilot attempted a precautionary landing due to high engine temperatures, but touched down too far down the runway so went around. The engine failed during the go-around and, during the subsequent forced landing in a field, the pilot was unable to prevent the aircraft from striking a hedge before coming to rest on an adjacent minor road.
08 May 2022	Rans S6S-116 SUPER SIX	G-XALZ	Yearby Airstrip, Redcar, North Yorkshire	The aircraft encountered turbulence on short finals which led to the left wheel entering the long grass beside the runway after touchdown. Despite the efforts of the pilot to steer back to the runway, the aircraft suffered significant damage when it then struck the boundary hedge.
14 May 2022	Mooney M20J	G-OEAC	Skegness Airfield, Lincolnshire	Shortly after takeoff at around 150 ft agl, the aircraft veered to the left which the pilot was unable to correct. The aircraft descended rapidly and came to rest in a large ditch. The aircraft was substantially damaged.
15 May 2022	X’Air Falcon 912(2)	G-CCNF	Wickenby Aerodrome, Lincolnshire	Following two abortive approaches due to turbulent conditions at low level, the pilot decided to make a third approach because their low fuel state precluded diversion. During the flare, the left landing gear struck the ground heavily and the mainwheel broke off.
17 May 2022	Rans S6-ES	G-CCTV	Chilbolton Airfield, Hampshire	The aircraft’s engine lost power at low altitude during takeoff. The pilot stated that a landing straight ahead was not possible due to a road and a hedge, so he turned back towards the runway. The pilot lost control of the aircraft over the runway whilst in a left turn, resulting in moderate damage to the aircraft.
20 May 2022	Staaken Z-21 Flitzer	G-ERMN	Perth Airport, Perth and Kinross	The pilot intended to carry out a touch and go but immediately after the aircraft landed it veered to the left and nosed over on the runway.
22 May 2022	Aeroprakt A32 Vixxen	G-DREW	Compton Abbas Airfield, Dorset	After a normal initial touchdown the nose landing gear collapsed during the landing roll.
28 May 2022	EC120 B	G-TIMO	Denton, Oxfordshire	The pilot reported that this was the first time he had taken off with rear seat passengers onboard. There was a 9 kt wind from the left and the helicopter yawed to the left when it became light on the skids. He continued to pull up on the collective lever and, with the forward part of the right skid still in contact with the ground, the helicopter dynamically rolled onto its right side.
29 May 2022	DH82A Tiger Moth	G-ALWW	Bidford Airfield, Warwickshire	Prior to engine start, whilst the pilot was rotating the propeller by hand, the engine fired on one cylinder and a blade hit and fractured the his hand. It was later established that there was an intermittent connection of the ‘p’ lead to the impulse (right magneto) in the contact breaker cap.
01 Jun 2022	Jodel D117	G-BHEL	Deenethorpe Airfield, Northamptonshire	After a ‘fast’ landing, the aircraft ground looped and the right gear caught the edge of the runway area and suffered damage.
01 Jun 2022	Easy Raider J2.2(2)	G-CBXF	Gerpin’s Farm Airfield, Upminster, Greater London	Whilst flying a circuit the engine speed started to fluctuate. The pilot flew a slightly tighter circuit, maintaining extra height and speed to give a margin in case the engine failed. At 10-15 ft the aircraft developed a high rate of descent and landed firmly, damaging the landing gear. The pilot considered he may have flared too high or lost airspeed after crossing the threshold.
07 Jun 2022	Beagle Auster A.61	G-ARNO	Fowlmere Airfield, Hertfordshire	The aircraft sank quickly as the pilot flared for landing. The pilot stated that he was slow to apply power to cushion the landing. The aircraft bounced, pitched forward, and nosed over. The pilot attributed the pitching forward to the control column not being held fully back. He was wearing a flying helmet which he felt prevented a serious head injury.
07 Jun 2022	Zenair CH 601XL	G-CDGP	Barton Ash, Winchester, Hampshire	On final approach to land, the aircraft was caught by a gust of wind which pushed it close to some trees. The pilot attempted to recover but the aircraft’s right wing contacted the ground, and the aircraft came to a halt after hitting a hedge, wire fence and a tree.
09 Jun 2022	Sling 4	G-SLIV	City Airport (Barton), Manchester	On landing the aircraft struck an area of uneven ground on the runway, which pitched the aircraft nose down. The nose landing gear passed over a raised area of ground, which caused it to fail leading to damage to the fuselage and two propeller blades.
12 Jun 2022	Rotorsport UK MT-03	G-CFKA	Revesby, East Lindsey, Lincolnshire,	The engine lost power during the approach to land so the pilot made a forced landing in a crop field. The tail, rudder and horizontal stabiliser were damaged during the landing.
15 Jun 2022	Flight Design CT2K	G-TOMJ	Sackville Farm Airfield, Risely, Bedfordshire	The student pilot made an approach that was fast. He flared for the landing but, after touchdown, the aircraft bounced three times. Then, from a height of about 5 ft, the student pushed the nose down and the aircraft landed heavily on the nosewheel which suffered damage as a consequence.
18 Jun 2022	Jabiru J400	G-CDJL	Nr Penrith, Cumbria	After 20 miles of flight the engine lost power and cut out due to fuel starvation. The main landing gear was damaged during the subsequent forced landing in a field.
19 Jun 2022	Ikarus C42 FB100 VLA (M)	G-CCPS	Ballymeanoch, Argyll & Bute	The pilot encountered an unexpected gust during landing. The wing and landing gear were damaged in the subsequent hard landing.
19 Jun 2022	Pegasus Quik	G-CCOK	Fairleigh Farm, Pontefract, West Yorkshire	During the landing at a farm strip, a gust of wind caused the aircraft to drift left into a standing wheat crop. The wing caught the crop and the aircraft ended up on its side.
19 Jun 2022	Jabiru SP-470	G-IPAT	Perth Airport, Perth and Kinross	The pilot described making ‘a rough’ landing during which the nosewheel collapsed.