What happened
On 24 March 2012, a private flight involving a BRM Land Africa aircraft, registration EI-ECW, ended in an accident at Bréandroim, Co. Galway. The pilot had flown a short 15-minute route from a private airstrip at Corr Na Móna to an unprepared field. The intended landing site featured a significant uphill gradient and soft terrain.
Upon touchdown, the aircraft did not bounce but immediately began to dig into the soft ground. During the landing roll, the nosewheel assembly failed at the fork bracket attachment. This structural failure caused the aircraft to pitch forward due to forward inertia. As the nose dug in, the propeller blades struck the ground and sheared, and the aircraft eventually came to rest in an inverted position. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, was uninjured and was able to evacuate the overturned aircraft safely.
The investigation
An AAIU field investigation examined the wreckage and the landing site. Investigators noted that the ground was dry but very soft. Analysis of witness marks on the terrain revealed that the main wheels did not rotate upon contact, causing the aircraft to skid. A deep gouge in the earth marked the point where the nose leg failed.
Physical damage to EI-ECW was substantial, including a twisted starboard wing, a broken aft fuselage, and fractured propeller blades. The investigation also confirmed that the pilot's 4-point safety harness functioned correctly, preventing injury during the inversion.