What happened
On April 14, 2006, a Jodel D 1201, registration G-CCBR, was returning from a navigation exercise near Carlow. The pilot intended to perform a touch-and-go maneuver on Runway 19 before landing on Runway 29. During the approach, the pilot noted another aircraft taxiing nearby and a tractor operating on the grass adjacent to the runway.
After touching down on the runway, the aircraft began to drift toward the left. The pilot attempted to correct this with right rudder but was unable to stabilize the aircraft. A decision was made to abort the planned go-around because applying full power risked a collision with the nearby tractor. While attempting to maintain the aircraft on the runway surface, the pilot performed several rudder corrections, which ultimately caused the aircraft to ground loop 90 degrees to the right. The aircraft exited the paved surface and entered soft ground, causing the undercarriage to collapse. Both the pilot and the passenger evacuated the aircraft without injury, and no fire occurred.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the aerodynamic characteristics of tailwheel aircraft and the environmental factors present during the landing. Investigators examined the aircraft's design, noting that because the center of gravity is located behind the main gear in a tailwheel configuration, the aircraft is inherently directionally unstable during ground maneuvers. This setup creates a natural tendency for the aircraft to yaw.
Additionally, the investigation looked at the pilot's experience level and the presence of external distractions. It was noted that the pilot had limited experience with this specific aircraft type, with only four hours of flight time on the model and 29 total hours of tailwheel experience. The presence of the tractor and the taxiing aircraft were also evaluated as potential factors that could have diverted the pilot's attention from the necessary rudder inputs.