What happened
On 2 July 2018, an Escapelle 912(2), registration G-ECKB, was conducting a private flight near Devizes, Wiltshire. During the final approach to a private airstrip at Coate, the aircraft encountered turbulence, causing it to sink. This sudden movement caused the passenger to react by inadvertently restricting the movement of the control stick, preventing the pilot from pulling it rearwards to arrest the descent.
As a result of this restricted control, the aircraft descended rapidly toward the grass runway. Upon contact with the ground, the left main landing gear detached from the airframe. Although the pilot instructed the passenger to allow for free movement of the controls, the aircraft bounced once before coming to rest on its right main landing gear and tailwheel. As the aircraft slowed, it settled onto its left wingtip and slewed toward the edge of an adjacent grain crop.
There were no injuries to the pilot or the passenger during the event. The aircraft sustained damage to the propeller, the left main landing gear, and the left wing.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report form provided by the pilot. Investigators examined the sequence of events leading to the loss of control and the physical impact of the aircraft with the runway. The inquiry also considered the pilot's experience and the specific circumstances regarding the passenger's reaction to the turbulence.