What happened
On 20 April 2018, a Europa aircraft, registration G-RICS, was conducting a private flight in the local area near Ellens Green, Surrey. The weather conditions during the flight were favorable. While approaching a grass airstrip at Baynards Farm, the pilot executed a stable approach using full flaps into a slight headwind.
Upon touching down, the aircraft bounced approximately three feet. The pilot subsequently decided to initiate a go-around. During the application of full power, with the propeller set to a fine pitch, the aircraft experienced a sudden loss of directional control. The nose yawed toward the left, causing the left wing to drop. This loss of control occurred rapidly due to the low airspeed at the time. The nose and the left wingtip impacted the grass roughly 10 metres from the runway edge, after which the aircraft slid an additional 10 metres off the strip. The pilot sustained minor injuries, but the aircraft suffered substantial damage.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. The examiner noted that the pilot had significant experience on this specific type, with 385 of his 434 total flying hours completed in the Europa. However, the pilot's recent flying activity was low, with only two hours recorded in both the 28-day and 90-day periods preceding the accident.
Findings
- The aircraft's nose and left wingtip struck the ground during the go-around attempt.
- The pilot experienced a rapid loss of directional control following the application of power.
- The pilot suggested that his reduced flying frequency over the preceding four months might have contributed to the event.
- It was noted that aircraft with highly resilient or "springy" landing gear may require specific proficiency training, such as touch-and-go practice, to manage such flight characteristics.