What happened
On 6 August 2014, an EV-97 aircraft, registration G-CGGM, was performing a private flight when it experienced a heavy landing at a grass airfield in Pitsford, Northamptonshire. During the final approach, the pilot observed that the aircraft had become too slow and too low. Despite an application of power to correct the flight path, the aircraft struck the ground with significant force while maintaining what the pilot perceived as a level attitude.
Following the impact, the aircraft continued its landing roll and came to a stop without further incident. There were no injuries to the pilot or the single passenger on board. A post-flight inspection identified damage to the right wing, specifically involving the upper side, the outer edge of the trailing edge, and the right flap.
The investigation
The investigation examined the circumstances leading to the impact and the resulting damage to the airframe. The inspection of the aircraft revealed that the damage to the right wing was consistent with the wing making contact with the ground. The investigation considered the state of the undercarriage at the moment of impact and the terrain characteristics of the airfield threshold.
Findings
- The aircraft's right wing, including the flap and trailing edge, sustained structural buckling.
- The heavy landing was attributed to the pilot becoming distracted, which led to a loss of airspeed and altitude during short finals.
- It is believed that the force of the heavy landing caused the undercarriage to compress significantly, allowing the wing to strike the undulating ground near the airfield threshold.