Aircraft and Flight Details
The accident involved an EV-97 Teameurostar UK Eurostar, registration G-CEND, powered by a single Rotax 912-UL piston engine. The aircraft was manufactured in 2007. The flight was a training circuit exercise conducted by a 54-year-old student pilot with 56 hours of total flying experience, all on type. The flight took place on 30 September 2014 at 1540 UTC at Sywell Aerodrome, Northamptonshire.
Accident Sequence
The student planned to practice circuits on Runway 23 for approximately one hour. The first circuit was flown dual with an instructor. After that, the student took off solo for the remainder of the session. Two more circuits were completed without incident. On the fourth approach, which the student described as "normal," the aircraft bounced three times on touchdown before coming to a halt on the left side of the runway. The student then taxied the aircraft back to the school's hangar.
Post-Accident Observations
Examination of the aircraft revealed damage to the firewall, lower fuselage, and left wingtip. The instructor, who was watching the student, noted that the accident approach was fast and flat. After the first bounce, the student pushed the control column forward instead of applying power and initiating a go-around. The instructor also observed the left wingtip strike the ground. Both the student and instructor recognized that a go-around should have been performed after the first bounce.