What happened
On 17 July 2014, an Escapade, registration G-LEEK, was performing a private flight at Haverfordwest Aerodrome in Pembrokeshire. The pilot had previously completed a flight using Runway 03, and the forecast indicated a north-north-east wind of 7 knots. During the second sortie, the pilot approached Runway 09. Upon a brief check of the windsock, the pilot perceived minimal wind activity.
Following touchdown on Runway 09, the left wing lifted, causing the aircraft to slew toward the left side of the runway. Despite the application of right rudder, the pilot was unable to maintain directional control. As the aircraft departed the runway at low speed, the right wheel encountered gravel, which caused the right landing gear leg to break away from the fuselage. The incident resulted in damage to the right-hand landing gear, the right wingtip, and the fuselage, though there were no injuries to the pilot or the passenger.
The investigation
The investigation established that the actual wind conditions during the landing were more easterly than forecasted, with speeds varying between 0 and 7 knots. The pilot noted that a gust of wind from the left likely contributed to the loss of control. In retrospect, the pilot acknowledged that utilizing Runway 03, as done during the earlier flight, would have been a more appropriate choice given the wind direction.