What happened
On 22 August 2020, a Jodel D112, registration G-INNI, was performing a local flight from Old Hay Airfield, Kent. During the return portion of the flight, the pilot executed a heavy landing that caused the aircraft to bounce. In an attempt to recover, the pilot applied full power and initiated a go-around. During this maneuver, the pilot observed that the aileron controls had become stiff. To mitigate the risk of difficult handling, the pilot widened the flight circuit to allow for shallower, more gentle turns.
Upon completing the landing and taxiing toward the main hangar, the pilot noted that the aileron control functionality had returned to normal. There were no injuries to the pilot during the occurrence.
The investigation
An inspection conducted by an LAA inspector failed to find any definitive structural damage. However, the investigation did reveal abrasion marks on both ailerons where they had made contact with the wing. To further investigate the cause of the control stiffness, the wing skin was removed to allow for a detailed examination of the main spar. This inspection confirmed that no damage to the spar had occurred that would have contributed to the reported stiffness in the aileron controls.
Findings
- The pilot experienced a period of stiff aileron control following a heavy landing and subsequent bounce.
- Abrasion marks were present on both ailerons, indicating contact with the wing structure.
- No structural damage to the main spar was identified during the inspection of the wing internals.