What happened
On 28 August 2017, an Aerotechnik EV-97 Eurostar, registration G-CCBK, was performing a private landing at Harthill Court Farm in Gloucestershire. The pilot intended to land in a field site providing an available landing run of roughly 320 m. During the approach, the pilot noted thermic conditions and observed that the aircraft's speed was slightly higher than ideal.
The aircraft touched down approximately 100 m into the field, leaving 220 m of remaining runway. During the landing roll, the pilot experienced an unsettled sensation, which he attributed to a potential light tailwind. Due to the presence of 40 ft trees at the end of the overrun, the pilot decided to steer the aircraft toward a gap in a hedge rather than attempting a go-around. The aircraft subsequently came to a stop upon impact with the hedge. The pilot sustained no injuries, though the aircraft suffered damage to the nosewheel, propeller tips, wing leading edges, flaps, and potentially the main landing gear mounting and rear spar.
The investigation
Investigators examined the landing performance parameters and the pilot's decision-making process. While the aircraft's Pilot Operating Handbook (POH) specifies a braked landing distance of 260 m, the landing in question was performed on an uphill gradient, which would typically assist in deceleration. However, the investigation noted that the pilot had not performed specific landing performance calculations for this arrival, as the field was a frequent landing site.
Findings
- The pilot approached the landing at a speed higher than necessary.
- The aircraft encountered an unsettled state during the roll, likely due to a light tailwind.
- The pilot failed to carry out landing performance calculations prior to the arrival.
- The decision to steer into a hedge gap was driven by the proximity of trees at the end of the available landing area.