History of the Flight
On 23 June 2021, the pilot of a Comco Ikarus C42 FB100 C (registration G-CLYP) departed Little Snoring Airfield and made a 55-minute stop at Cotswold Airport to refuel. The flight resumed at 1320 hrs for the home airfield at Perranporth, Cornwall. The weather was bright and sunny with an 8 kt northerly wind. The pilot noted that sunlight through the aircraft’s overhead transparency caused discomfort throughout the journey.
Landing and Damage
The approach to Runway 01 was stable at 60 kt with a good glidepath. During the flare, the pilot realised he was too high but decided to continue the landing. The aircraft touched down, bounced, and then landed hard, causing the nose leg to collapse before the aircraft came to a stop. The damage comprised a collapsed nose leg and a damaged propeller. The pilot was the sole occupant and reported no injuries.
Pilot's Comments
The pilot reported suffering a severe headache that evening, which he attributed to dehydration or possibly mild heat stroke. He suggested this may have affected his judgement during the landing. He had not considered the effect of sunlight through the overhead transparency before the journey and had not worn a hat or rehydrated since leaving Little Snoring at 1020 hrs.
Safety Actions
The British Microlight Aircraft Association (BMAA) agreed to publish an article in their October 2021 edition of *Microlight Flying* to highlight the impact of seasonal weather changes on flying, using this accident as an example. The July 2021 edition had already briefly warned of the effects of summer climatic conditions and dehydration.