Aircraft and Flight Information
The accident involved a Europa XS Monowheel, registration G-BYIK, manufactured in 1999. It was powered by a single Rotax 912-UL piston engine. The flight was a training sortie with only the pilot on board. The pilot, aged 76, held an 'Other' licence and had 475 hours total flying experience, with 209 hours on type. His recent flying included 5 hours in the last 90 days and 3 hours in the last 28 days.
History of the Flight
On 16 March 2024 at 1300 UTC, the aircraft was landing at Full Sutton Airfield in Yorkshire. During the landing, the aircraft bounced, prompting the pilot to initiate a go-around. He opened the throttle, the aircraft lifted off and began to climb. However, the pilot felt that he had pitched up excessively, so he levelled off at about 80 ft above ground level. At that point, the left wing dropped and the aircraft descended. The left wing struck the ground, and the aircraft partially cartwheeled, damaging the propeller, left wing tip, and tail fin before coming to a stop. The pilot exited the aircraft with minor injuries.
Pilot Comments
The pilot considered several factors that led to the accident. He noted that he touched down "a little faster" than desired, resulting in the bounce. He applied power too late during the go-around, and while reducing the pitch angle and levelling off, the aircraft's airspeed decreased. The pilot also believed that turbulence and airflow around nearby hangars may have affected the aircraft.