What happened
On 10 April 2010, a private Laverda SpA F.8L Falco IV, registration EI-BMF, was performing a local flight near Powerscourt, Co. Wicklow. After a 30-minute trip, the aircraft approached the airfield to land on Runway 30, which features a significant uphill slope. During the final stages of the approach, the pilot initiated a go-around.
As the aircraft attempted to climb, the left wing struck a tree located just 71 meters beyond the runway end. The impact caused the aircraft to strike the ground, eventually coming to rest in an inverted position in a nearby field. A post-impact fire, fueled by the aircraft's fuel supply, consumed much of the wreckage. The passenger was killed instantly, and the pilot later succumbed to his injuries.
The investigation
The AAIU investigation examined the aircraft's configuration, maintenance records, and the environmental conditions at the time of the accident. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft was properly maintained, within weight and balance limits, and had a valid flight permit.
Investigators analyzed the flight controls, noting that the landing gear and flap switches were located on the same panel and utilized similar toggle switches. The investigation also reviewed the airfield's layout, specifically noting a tree that had grown into the flight path of a departing or climbing aircraft. Meteorological data indicated variable winds, which may have included a tailwind component during the maneuver.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was that the landing gear remained in the extended position during the go-around, which significantly increased drag and degraded the aircraft's climb performance.
- The aircraft's ability to clear obstacles was compromised by the excessive drag from the gear, making the climb-out a marginal operation given the terrain.
- A tree on the extended centerline of the runway had been allowed to grow into a significant obstacle.
- The ergonomic layout of the cockpit switches may have led to the pilot accidentally selecting the flap switch instead of the landing gear switch.
- The proximity of the tree to the runway end was not clearly identified as a hazard by the pilot during the climb.