What happened
On 14 November 2017, a Cessna 150L, registration G-BABC, was conducting a training flight at RAF Henlow, Bedfordshire. The flight involved a student pilot and an instructor practicing short field landing techniques on a grass runway.
During the initial approach with flaps set to 3-0 degrees, the aircraft experienced an excessive rate of descent. The instructor intervened and initiated a go-around. Following a briefing, a second approach was attempted. However, as the aircraft reached approximately 30 feet above the ground, the pilot selected idle power. This action caused the nose to pitch downward and the descent rate to accelerate rapidly.
Although the instructor took control and applied full power, the nosewheel struck the runway before the flap configuration could be adjusted. The aircraft bounced to about 20 feet, but due to propeller damage sustained during the initial impact, the engine could not produce maximum thrust. The instructor maintained a full aft control column position to mitigate the descent. The aircraft eventually landed heavily on its main wheels, at which point the nose leg detached. The aircraft pitched forward, causing the nose and right wing tip to strike the ground, briefly leaving the fuselage in a near-vertical position before settling back on its main wheels. There were no injuries to the two crew members.
The investigation
The AAIB examined the sequence of the landing and the aircraft's performance following the selection of idle power. The investigation looked into the mechanical state of the aircraft and the impact of the propeller damage on the ability to recover from the initial touchdown. The investigation also reviewed the student's previous training experience regarding flap settings and landing configurations.