What happened
On 7 May 2016, a Pitts S-2A Special, registration G-BTUL, was conducting a training flight at Sleap Airfield in Shropshire. The flight was the third in a series of aerobatic training sessions. During the landing phase, the pilot took control of the aircraft from a student to perform a right-hand circuit landing on Runway 05.
While the pilot noted the aircraft was closer to the runway threshold than intended during the final approach, the flare and touchdown were initially described as normal. However, as the aircraft continued its ground roll, it failed to decelerate at the expected rate. This was followed by a sudden drop of the left wing, which caused the aircraft to enter a ground loop to the right. The aircraft sustained damage to the lower wing, the left landing gear, the tail wheel, and the bottom of the rudder. Both occupants of the aircraft evacuated the scene without injury.
The investigation
Investigators examined the circumstances surrounding the wind conditions and the mechanical state of the aircraft. Although the official wind report indicated a breeze from 080º at 10 kt—which would have supported a landing on Runway 05—other airfield observers suggested the wind may have been coming from the south-southwest, which would have created a tailwind component for that runway.
Following the accident, a physical examination of G-BTUL was conducted. This inspection revealed that the left main landing gear had collapsed, a failure that likely occurred during the landing roll and served as the primary trigger for the wing drop and subsequent ground loop.