What happened
On 27 February 2016, a student pilot was conducting solo visual circuits in an EV97 Teameuro-star UK, registration G-CDNI, at Peterborough/Conington Airport. During the third circuit of the flight, the aircraft encountered a strong gust of wind at approximately 100 feet, causing the left wing to rise. In response to this upset, the pilot initiated a go-around procedure.
As the aircraft moved across a field of crops adjacent to the runway, the track diverged from the runway centerline. During this maneuver, the aircraft's nose pitched upward significantly. The pilot failed to lower the nose to maintain airspeed as instructed during training. As the aircraft reached a high angle of attack, the left wing dropped, and the aircraft rolled into an inverted position. The EV97 impacted the ground at an angle of approximately 45 degrees, resulting in one serious injury to the pilot and the aircraft being destroyed.
The investigation
The AAIB investigation examined the aircraft's mechanical condition, the meteorological data, and the flight training context. Examination of the wreckage showed no evidence of mechanical or structural failure prior to impact. The investigation also reviewed the flying school's standing orders, which prohibited flying in winds gusting over 15 knots or with a crosswind component exceeding 10 knots.
An assessment of the aircraft's handling characteristics was also conducted. It was established that during a go-around with flap 30 selected, the aircraft has a significant tendency to pitch nose-up when power is rapidly applied. Maintaining a safe climb attitude requires the pilot to apply firm forward pressure on the control column to counteract this pitch-up tendency.
Findings
- The aircraft was likely upset by a gust of wind, causing the initial wing rise.
- The pilot's attention may have been diverted by the aircraft's deviation from the runway heading.
- The pilot failed to apply the necessary forward pressure on the control column to prevent a rapid nose-up pitch during the go-around.
- The resulting high angle of attack led to a wing drop and an unrecoverable stall at a low altitude.