What happened
On 4 November 2014, a Jodel DR1050 Ambassadeur, registration G-AYLL, was performing a private flight at Lee-on-the-Solent Airfield in Hampshire. During the approach to Runway 35, the pilot executed a three-point touchdown with airbrakes deployed under calm wind conditions. While the initial landing appeared normal, the aircraft began to swing toward the right during the landing roll. The pilot attempted to correct this with left rudder, but the aircraft continued to veer left, exiting the paved runway surface. The aircraft turned approximately 270 degrees before the pilot regained control, applied power, and taxied across the grass to the parking area. Upon exiting the aircraft, the pilot discovered a major fracture in the rear fuselage.
The investigation
Investigators examined the runway and identified tailwheel tyre marks that indicated a shimmy had occurred for some distance. These marks began at a raised crack in the tarmac and continued until the aircraft left the pavement. The investigation established that the tailwheel had struck the remains of a concrete runway gutter located on the grass verge.
Examination of the aircraft's wooden structure revealed evidence of moisture, including a possible 'tidemark' suggesting long-term exposure to water. While some deterioration was noted in the bonded joints, investigators could not definitively conclude whether this structural decay caused the initial loss of control or if the damage was a direct result of the impact with the concrete debris.