What happened
On 22 October 2018, an Aeroprakt A22-L Foxbat, registration G-CESI, was conducting a private flight from RNAS Yeovilton to Colwall Farmstrip in Herefordshire. The aircraft was carrying one pilot and one passenger. During the landing phase on the north-easterly runway, the pilot performed a flare, but the tailwheel made contact with a recently felled tree trunk. This impact caused the aircraft to pitch forward abruptly, resulting in the collapse of the nose landing gear. The aircraft slid to a stop, sustaining damage to the propeller, firewall, tail wheel, and nose gear. There were no injuries to the occupants.
The investigation
The investigation established that the pilot was aware that a tree had been recently removed from the area and that its remains could pose a hazard. However, a hedgerow obscured the remaining tree trunk during the approach. The pilot had opted for a lower approach than usual because the tree was no longer standing, which inadvertently brought the aircraft's path closer to the hedge. Furthermore, the pilot noted that the low position of the sun created an optical illusion, making the landing strip appear shorter than it actually was, which prompted a decision to land as short as possible.
Findings
- The pilot's decision to land short was influenced by the sun's position making the field appear shorter.
- The tree trunk was hidden from view by a hedgerow during the approach.
- The pilot's approach was lower than previous flights due to the perceived absence of the tree.
- The tailwheel struck a recently felled tree trunk, causing the forward pitch and gear collapse.