What happened
On 26 June 2014, an EV-9/TeamEurostar UK, registration G-CDNI, was performing a training flight at Cranfield Airport, Bedfordshire. During the landing on Runway 03, the pilot conducted a normal approach at approximately 60 mph with two stages of flaps deployed. The pilot reported that the flare was performed too high, leading to a heavy touchdown.
Following the landing, the pilot slowed the aircraft to taxi speed. After traveling roughly 100 yards down the runway, the left main landing gear collapsed. This caused the left wingtip to strike the runway surface. The aircraft subsequently swung through 90 degrees and came to a stop at the edge of the runway. There were no injuries to the pilot or the single passenger on board.
The investigation
The investigation examined the sequence of events leading to the structural failure and the pilot's actions during the landing phase. The pilot provided information regarding the flight dynamics and the physical configuration of the aircraft's controls. The investigation established that the pilot had experienced difficulty during the flare due to a lack of familiarity with the specific control layout of the aircraft used for the training session.
Findings
- The landing was characterized by a high flare, which resulted in a heavy impact with the runway.
- The pilot experienced confusion regarding the positioning of the throttle and the control column, as the arrangement in G-CDNI was the opposite of the aircraft the pilot typically used for training.
- This confusion likely prevented the pilot from taking necessary corrective actions during the flare.
- The primary cause of the incident was the heavy landing resulting from a misjudged flare.