What happened
On 20 April 2013, an Ikarus C42 FB microlight, registration G-CEFA, was performing a private flight toward a grass field near Garristown, Co. Meath. The pilot had previously surveyed the landing site and noted one set of wires crossing the northern end of the field. During the final approach, the pilot identified the known wires but failed to notice a second set of lines. Upon being alerted by a passenger to the presence of these additional wires, the pilot executed an immediate go-around.
During this maneuver, the aircraft struck and severed two 20 kV power lines. The pilot subsequently diverted to Barstown airstrip. During the landing rollout at the second location, the port side main undercarriage assembly collapsed. There were no injuries to the two occupants.
The investigation
An investigation by the AAIU established that the aircraft's port side main undercarriage strut had been structurally weakened by the initial contact with the power lines. This weakened component failed under the load of the landing at Barstown. While the pilot initially believed the gear collapse was due to a rushed landing, physical evidence on the removed undercarriage assembly confirmed the wire strike.
Investigators also noted that the aircraft was operating under a UK Permit to Fly and the pilot was using a UK NPPL. However, because the pilot was a resident of Ireland, the license and the aircraft's permit had not been validated or transferred to the Irish authorities as required for long-term operations in Irish airspace.
Findings
- The primary cause of the undercarriage failure was the structural damage sustained to the forward supporting strut during the contact with power lines.
- The pilot's decision to perform a sudden, sharp pull-up to avoid the second set of wires contributed to the subsequent landing gear collapse during the rushed landing at Barstown.
- The presence of overhead power lines represents a persistent hazard, particularly for high-performance STOL aircraft capable of landing in unprepared fields.
- The pilot did not initially report the occurrence to the AAIU, and parts of the aircraft were moved and altered before the investigation could begin.