What happened
On August 6, 2024, a Vans RV-14, registration SP-YBI, was involved in an aviation accident at the Villmobakken airstrip on Vannøya, Norway. The flight, a private operation involving a pilot and one passenger, had previously landed at Engeløya Airport, where the pilot received verbal information and a video regarding the conditions at the Villmobakken strip.
Upon arriving at the airstrip, the pilot performed flyovers to familiarize himself with the terrain. The aircraft, a tailwheel type, touched down on runway 26 at approximately 60 knots. As the aircraft continued its rollout, it passed a high point on the runway and began traveling slightly downhill. During this phase, the pilot lost directional control, and the aircraft veered to the left. The left main gear moved off the gravel surface and entered a drainage ditch located near the edge of the runway. This impact caused the aircraft to flip forward onto its back. Both occupants sustained minor injuries, but the aircraft suffered extensive damage, including a broken propeller, landing gear, wings, and canopy.
The investigation
The Norwegian Safety Investigation Authority (NSIA) examined the sequence of events, the aircraft's configuration, and the airstrip's characteristics. The investigation noted that the pilot had prepared for the landing by checking the aircraft's gear and reducing weight, but the pilot's understanding of the specific local conditions at Villmobakken was insufficient. The NSIA also reviewed the airstrip's infrastructure, noting the absence of windsocks in the immediate vicinity and the presence of the drainage ditch as a significant obstacle.
Findings
- The pilot did not have a sufficient understanding of the local airstrip conditions based on the oral information provided.
- The narrowness of the airstrip and its uneven surface made maintaining the centerline extremely difficult.
- The tailwheel configuration of the aircraft contributed to instability during the rollout, as the center of gravity is located behind the main wheels.
- The presence of an open drainage ditch adjacent to the runway acted as a critical obstacle; the NSIA concluded the aircraft likely would not have overturned if the ditch had not been present.
- The lack of immediate wind indicators (windsocks) at the airstrip increases the difficulty of assessing local wind conditions for arriving pilots.
Safety action
- The NSIA noted that the airstrip operator had not fulfilled previous intentions to install windsocks at both ends of the runway, as recommended following a 2015 accident.
- The investigation emphasized that while pilots must assess their ability to fly in specific conditions, airstrip operators must ensure that information regarding hazards, such as drainage ditches, is clearly communicated.