What happened
On 9 June 2018, a Denney Kitfox MK3, registration G-KTTY, was conducting a training flight at Manchester Barton Airport. The pilot, who was undergoing type conversion training, was performing circuit practice. During the first circuit, the aircraft experienced a firm touchdown caused by a high sink rate.
On the following circuit, the aircraft approached the threshold with similar flight parameters, leading the pilot to initiate a go-around. During the early stages of this maneuver, the aircraft's nose pitched up excessively, causing a stall. This resulted in a wing drop and a heavy impact on the right main landing gear. Following the touchdown, the right wingtip struck the runway, triggering a 180-degree ground loop to the right. During this rotation, the left wingtip also made contact with the ground before the aircraft stopped.
The investigation
The investigation examined the pilot's actions and the aircraft's performance during the maneuver. It was established that the pilot had recently acquired the aircraft and was in the process of completing conversion training. The pilot noted that he struggled to maintain the appropriate pitch attitude during the go-around because the aircraft's nose obscured his view of the horizon. Furthermore, the absence of an artificial horizon meant there was no instrument available to help him reference the correct climb attitude.
Findings
- The aircraft sustained a bent right main landing gear, a failed tailwheel shear pin, and hairline cracks to the fibreglass downward winglets.
- The primary cause of the accident was the pilot's lack of familiarity with the required nose-up attitude during a go-around.
- The pilot's ability to judge the correct pitch was hindered by obscured forward vision and the lack of an artificial horizon for visual reference.