Accident Overview
On 20 June 2014 at approximately 1110 UTC, a privately operated Ikarus C42 FB100 (registration G-ZAVI) was involved in an accident at Lundy Island Airfield, Devon. The flight was the fourth visit by the pilot to the airfield. The aircraft was a 2006 model equipped with a single Rotax 912ULS piston engine. The pilot, aged 78, held a National Private Pilot’s Licence and had accumulated 317 flying hours, of which 313 were on type. One passenger was on board. Neither the pilot nor the passenger sustained injuries.
Sequence of Events
Prior to landing, the pilot obtained Prior Permission Required (PPR) and was advised that sheep might be grazing on the runway. Upon arrival, the pilot observed several sheep on the runway and performed two low approaches to clear them. On the third approach, a ewe and its lamb were noted near the threshold, prompting the pilot to plan a longer landing. As the aircraft touched down, the sheep moved out of view, with the pilot later recollecting the ewe running to the right and the lamb to the left.
The landing itself was described as normal, but when the pilot applied the brakes, the aircraft did not decelerate as expected. The aircraft continued toward a wall at the runway end. The pilot steered to the right onto uneven ground, where the nose landing gear collapsed, and the propeller blades struck the ground.
Damage and Findings
Post-accident inspection revealed that the nose leg had collapsed. Additionally, a brake line, fairing, and wheel spats were damaged. A dead lamb was discovered near the runway threshold. The pilot suggested that during the landing, the right main wheel had struck the lamb, causing the wheel spat to break and the hydraulic brake pipes to be compromised.