What happened
On 20 June 2024, an Aeroprakt A32 Vixxen, registration G-RASP, was conducting a private flight from Nottingham City Airport to Northrepps (Cromer) Airfield in Norfolk. During the initial approach to Runway 04, the aircraft encountered turbulence near the runway undershoot trees. While the pilot successfully completed a first approach, a second attempt encountered similar turbulence that caused a rapid descent.
In an effort to correct the flight path, the pilot applied power and rudder, but the aircraft ultimately struck the runway with a heavy nosewheel impact. During the subsequent go-around, the pilot discovered that the rudder pedals had become jammed. Suspecting that the impact had damaged the nosewheel steering assembly, the pilot faced a difficult decision. Concerned that a landing on a hard runway might cause the nose gear to collapse, and reluctant to deploy the aircraft's ballistic parachute system due to the unpredictable nature of such a deployment, the pilot opted for a precautionary landing.
Seeking the softest available terrain to mitigate risk, the pilot identified a nearby corn field. The aircraft was landed aligned with the crop furrows at a low speed. However, upon touchdown, the landing gear became entangled in the corn, causing the aircraft to flip and come to rest inverted. There were no fatalities or significant injuries, and both occupants successfully self-evacuated.
The investigation
The AAIB examined the sequence of events following the heavy touchdown and the subsequent mechanical failure. The investigation established that the rudder pedal jamming was directly linked to the damage sustained by the steerable nosewheel assembly during the nosewheel-first landing. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's decision-making process regarding the choice of landing site and the refusal to use the onboard parachute system.