What happened
On 22 May 2016, a Mainair Blade 912, registration G-CBRE, was conducting a private flight from Pound Green to Long Marston Airfield. While flying at 2,000 ft QFE, the pilot noted a wind speed of approximately 10 knots from 240°. After a brief flight to Stratford, the pilot returned to Long Marston to attempt a landing.
Upon re-joining the circuit at 600 ft QFE, the pilot noted that the wind direction had shifted to 300°, resulting in a significant crosswind component for Runway 22. Due to the increased turbulence and crosswind intensity, the pilot aborted the initial landing attempt. During the subsequent approach, the pilot utilized a long final to manage the environmental conditions, intending to touch down one-third along the runway. However, shortly before touchdown, the aircraft was struck by a gust that caused it to veer left. The aircraft subsequently landed on rough terrain adjacent to the runway, where it overturned onto its left side.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. The examination focused on the flight conditions and the sequence of events leading to the loss of control. The aircraft sustained major damage to the wing, damage to the left wheel spat, gel coat damage on the right side, and a twisted monopole.