What happened
On 2 October 2016, a Fournier RF5, registration G-AZPF, was conducting a private local area flight when it experienced an incident during landing at Manchester Barton Aerodrome. The weather conditions at the time were favorable, characterized by calm winds and clear visibility.
During the final approach on the grass runway, the pilot perceived the aircraft to be too high on its glide path. In an attempt to correct the descent, the pilot reduced the throttle to idle and fully deployed the airbrakes while maintaining a speed of 60 kt. Although this maneuver successfully adjusted the approach path, the pilot initiated the flare while the aircraft was still at an excessive altitude. While attempting to maintain back pressure on the control stick, the airspeed decreased significantly, leading to a stall at an estimated height of 5 to 10 feet. The aircraft struck the ground heavily and veered to the right, causing damage to the wing and fuselage. The pilot escaped the aircraft without injury.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. The inquiry examined the pilot's flight experience, noting that while the pilot held a Private Pilot’s Licence, they had only 29 hours of experience on this specific aircraft type. The investigation also reviewed the sequence of aerodynamic inputs made during the final approach and the subsequent stall.