What happened
On 15 April 2017, a Jodel D120 Paris-Nice, registration G-DIZO, was performing a private flight at Lee-on-Solent Airfield in Hampshire. During the landing phase on asphalt Runway 23, the aircraft experienced a bounce. While the subsequent touchdown was a three-point landing, a sudden gust of wind caused the aircraft to enter a ground loop to the right.
As the aircraft rotated through 180 degrees, the structural integrity of the landing gear was compromised. The left main landing gear leg collapsed, and the right main landing gear leg bent. The aircraft eventually came to a stop resting on its right main gear and the left wing.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. The investigation established that the aircraft was operating in a crosswind from 310 degrees, which reached a maximum gust of 13 knots. The pilot noted that the wind gusts encountered during the landing were more significant than he had expected.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was unanticipated wind gusts that triggered a ground loop.
- The aircraft's landing gear is susceptible to collapse when subjected to significant side forces.
- The sequence of events involved an initial bounce followed by a sudden directional change caused by the wind.