Background
On 8 September 2018 at 1130 UTC, a Beech 58 Baron, registration G-BYDY, operated on a private flight from Thruxton aerodrome to Haydock Park Airfield in Newton-Le-Willows. The aircraft was powered by two Continental Motors Corp IO-550-C piston engines and was manufactured in 1998 (serial no: TH-1852). The commander, holding a Commercial Pilot’s Licence, was 63 years old with 4,950 total flying hours (2,500 on type). There were four passengers on board.
History of the Flight
Before departure, the pilot contacted the Clerk of the Course at Haydock Park racecourse to assess runway conditions. The clerk reported that the head groundsman had walked the course that morning and described the ground as wet but “firm enough for aircraft to land”. Earlier that day, a Piper PA-32 Saratoga and an AS355 Écureuil 2 helicopter had landed without incident and were parked at the far western end of the airfield.
Upon arrival, the pilot overflew the airfield to check the windsock, noting rain but sufficient runway length provided touchdown occurred at the threshold. The wind was 230° at 8 kt. The pilot touched down on the threshold of the westerly runway (290°), allowed the aircraft to roll, and gently applied brakes. However, the wet conditions prevented the aircraft from decelerating over the last third of the runway.
The Incident
Realizing insufficient runway remained to stop and that a go-around was no longer possible, the pilot decided to perform a deliberate ground loop. The intended sequence was to steer left, apply left engine power and right rudder to swing the aircraft, then use right engine power to straighten, and finally brake to a stop. While steering left, the aft fuselage and left flap contacted the right wing of the parked PA-32 Saratoga. The aircraft continued the maneuver and came to rest as intended. All occupants exited unaided without injury; the parked aircraft was unoccupied.
Damage
The Beech Baron sustained damage to the aft fuselage skin panel, several fuselage frames, and the outer end of the left flap, which remained retractable. The PA-32 Saratoga was extensively damaged, with impact marks on the right wingtip and aileron, and significant distortion of the airframe.
Conclusion
The pilot initiated an abnormal maneuver to stop the aircraft after braking performance was degraded by the wet grass. The maneuver would have succeeded had contact with the parked aircraft not occurred. No persons on the landing aircraft were injured, and the parked aircraft was unoccupied.