What happened
On 27 May 2021, a De Havilland DH104 Dove 8, registration G-OPLC, was performing a repositioning flight from Coventry Airport, UK, to Abbeyshrule Aerodrome, Ireland. The flight, carrying a pilot and two passengers, was conducted under general aviation operations. Upon arrival, the pilot had been advised of a south crosswind and had performed an overflight of the airfield before selecting runway 10 for landing.
During the landing sequence, the aircraft experienced a firm touchdown. Immediately following contact with the runway, the aircraft began to veer toward the right. The pilot attempted to maintain directional control by applying left rudder and differential braking, while also increasing power to the right engine to correct the track. Despite these efforts, the aircraft departed the paved surface and entered a soft, grassy area south of the runway. As the aircraft sank into the ground, the right propeller blades struck the earth, and the right main landing gear tyre deflated. The aircraft came to a stop with no fire reported, and all three persons on board escaped without injury.
The investigation
Investigators examined the aircraft' and the environmental conditions at the time of the incident. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft sustained minor damage, specifically to the three blades of the right propeller and a shock-load to the right engine.
Technical inspection of the right main landing gear revealed that the tyre, which was manufactured in 1998, had an inner tube that had failed under pressure. While the tyre showed signs of wear, the specific damage—including scuffing and chunking—was determined to be new and likely caused by the excursion. The pilot noted that the approach speed had been higher than intended and suggested that a high sink rate during the flare, potentially caused by a fine pitch propeller setting and increased drag, contributed to the firm touchdown. Additionally, the presence of nearby buildings was noted as a possible factor in disturbing local wind conditions.
Findings
- The aircraft experienced a firm touchdown following an approach with a higher-than-intended airspeed.
- Directional control was lost as the aircraft veered right immediately after touchdown.
- The failure of the right tyre inner tube under pressure likely contributed to the initial difficulty in maintaining the aircraft's track on the runway.
- The aircraft's departure from the paved surface into soft ground led to the right propeller blades striking the ground and subsequent engine shock-loading.