What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on null involved a aircraft, registration G-INNI, at IE.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The accident was caused by attempting a landing in crosswind conditions that likely exceeded the aircraft's ability to maintain directional control, leading to a ground loop and subsequent undercarriage failure.

Undercarriage Failure During Ground Loop at Galway Airport

A Jodel D.112 Club aircraft sustained damage after a gust of wind triggered a ground loop during landing in crosswind conditions.

What happened

On 29 May 2009, a Sociėtė Wassmer Jodel D.1t2 Club, registration G-INNI, was performing a private flight from Fethard, Co. Tipperary, to Galway Airport (EICM). During the landing phase on Runway 08, the pilot encountered a crosswind of approximately 15 knots. As the aircraft transitioned from the round-out to the rollout, a sudden gust of wind lifted the starboard wing.

Despite the pilot applying full into-wind aileron to counteract the lift, the aircraft began to yaw sharply to the right. This maneuver resulted in a ground loop. During the excursion, the weight of the aircraft shifted heavily onto the port side, causing the port undercarriage leg to fail. The aircraft came to a stop approximately ten yards from its initial touchdown point. The pilot was uninjured, and the aircraft sustained minor damage, including a broken undercarriage leg and slight scuffing to the wingtip.

The investigation

The investigation examined the meteorological conditions and the aircraft's operational status. At the time of the incident, Galway Airport was experiencing gusty conditions, with potential gusts reaching 25 knots. The investigation also noted that while the aircraft operated under a UK CAA Permit to Fly, there was no record of the Irish Aviation Authority granting the necessary permission for the aircraft to operate in Irish airspace.

Technical analysis focused on the aircraft's handling characteristics. The Jodel D.112 Club, a tail-wheel configured aircraft, lacks the stability of tricycle gear types in challenging winds. The investigation reviewed the aircraft's instruction manual, which provides specific guidance for crosswind landings only up to a 12-knot component, leaving pilots without specific procedures for higher wind speeds.

Findings

The primary cause of the accident was a landing attempt in difficult crosswind conditions that likely exceeded the aircraft's operational capabilities.
A wind gust lifted the starboard wing at a critical moment during touchdown, which the pilot could not correct with flight controls.
The resulting ground loop placed excessive stress on the port undercarriage, leading to its structural failure.
The aircraft was operating in Ireland without documented permission from the local aviation authority, as required by its UK permit.