What happened
On 14 January 2014, a Van's RV-7A, registration EI-FAD, was performing a private flight from Abbeyshrule to Kilrush Airfield. While attempting to land on the grass runway 29, the aircraft experienced a bounce upon initial contact. In an effort to cushion the subsequent touchdown, the pilot applied additional engine power. This resulted in a deep landing on a saturated, wet grass surface.
Despite the application of brakes, the aircraft failed to decelerate sufficiently. The aircraft overran the end of the runway, crossing a small vertical drop into tilled, soft soil. The nose landing gear dug into the loose earth, causing the aircraft to pitch forward and come to rest in an inverted position. Both occupants, including a second pilot acting as an observer, evacuated the aircraft without injury, though the aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The investigation
The AAIU examined the aircraft's performance capabilities and the environmental conditions at the time of the accident. Investigators noted that the pilot had increased the approach speed to approximately 67 knots to account for a crosswind. The investigation also reviewed the aircraft's operating handbook, which mandates specific distance multipliers for landing on wet grass surfaces.
Evidence from tyre tracks confirmed that the aircraft was in contact with the runway for only the final 210 meters of the 550-meter strip. The investigation also looked into the pilot's recent flying history, noting that while the pilot was highly experienced in rotary-wing aircraft, they had only accumulated 12 hours of flight time on this specific aircraft type.