What happened
On 10 August 2016, a Europa XS, registration G-BYSA, was performing a private landing at Hollym Airfield in the East Riding of Yorkshire. The pilot, who had previously landed at the unlicensed grass airfield, approached Runway 32 under light wind conditions. During the landing roll, the pilot heard a noise originating from the right side of the aircraft, after which the plane began to slew to the right.
As the pilot attempted to correct the direction and apply brakes, the aircraft drifted toward the edge of the runway. The tailwheel subsequently crossed the cliff edge, causing the aircraft to fall tail-first down the cliff and into the sea. The pilot managed to exit the wreckage and activated a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB). After navigating to safety and reaching a nearby residence, the pilot was treated for minor injuries.
The investigation
Investigators examined the condition of the aircraft and the state of the airfield. The aircraft, a monowheel variant, featured retractable outrigger wheels. Following the accident, the right outrigger was found near the cliff edge; it had failed at the plastic section below its wing attachment point. The cause of this specific mechanical failure remained undetermined.
The investigation also focused on the changing geography of Hollym Airfield. While the pilot's previous experience at the site suggested a wider margin of error, significant coastal erosion had occurred in the four years since his last visit. This erosion had narrowed the usable runway width to approximately 14 metres, which is less than the 18-metre minimum width recommended by CAA guidance for aircraft of this weight class.
Findings
- The failure of the right outrigger contributed to the aircraft slewing during the landing roll.
- Coastal erosion had significantly reduced the width of Runway 32, leaving very little margin for error during the landing.
- The runway width had decreased to a point where it no longer met recommended safety standards for the aircraft type.