What happened
On 13 June 2019, a Bristell NG5, registration G-OJCS, crashed in a field near Belan, Co. Kildare. The aircraft had departed from Kilrush Airfield (EIKH) at approximately 18:02 UTC for a flight intended to involve flight training exercises. The aircraft was operated by a syndicate of pilots, and on this specific flight, the pilot was accompanied by a highly experienced instructor-rated pilot.
During the flight, the aircraft was performing maneuvers including steep turns and stalls. Data recovered from the aircraft's avionics and a navigation tablet indicates that while flying at an altitude of roughly 3,000 feet, the aircraft entered a stall at 18:21:10 UTC. Approximately 32 seconds later, the aircraft struck the ground. The impact occurred about 145 meters south of the point where the stall was recorded. The crash resulted in two fatalities, and the aircraft was destroyed upon impact.
The investigation
Investigators from the AAIU examined the wreckage and recovered digital data from the aircraft's flight systems. The wreckage analysis showed that the aircraft hit the ground in a left-hand flat spin. While the engine and propeller showed no signs of rotation at the moment of impact, investigators noted that engine failure can occur during prolonged spinning maneuvers.
Technical examination of the airframe confirmed that all flight control surfaces and linkages were intact and functional prior to the impact. The investigation also reviewed the flight experience of both occupants, noting the pilot had 287 hours of total time, while the second occupant was a commercial pilot with over 2,700 hours. The aircraft itself was a self-built model constructed under the UK LAA 51% program.
Findings
- The aircraft entered a left-hand flat spin during the descent.
- The accident occurred during a straight and level unaccelerated stall exercise.
- The aircraft impacted the ground approximately 32 seconds after the stall was recorded.