What happened
On 21 November 2014, a Kiss 450-582(2), registration G-PGHM, was conducting a private flight near Haverhill, Essex. The pilot intended to land in a farm field, a location he had previously visited and assessed as suitable for landing, including earlier that same morning.
During the approach, the aircraft landed with excessive force. The pilot failed to account for a reduction in wind speed prior to touchdown, which resulted in the aircraft hitting the ground "a bit heavily." Following the impact, the nose landing gear buckled beneath the trike, causing the nose cone to break. The aircraft then slid approximately 20 metres across the ground before coming to a stop. There were no injuries to the pilot or the single passenger on board.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot and subsequent enquiries by the AAIB. The examiner reviewed the pilot's flight experience, noting he held a National Private Pilot’s Licence with 46 total flying hours, 24 of which were on this specific aircraft type. The investigation focused on the circumstances of the landing and the mechanical failure of the landing gear.