What happened
On 10 June 2021, a Quik GTR, registration G-CHWO, was conducting a private flight near Cooling, Kent. The flight was a general skills test involving a student pilot, which included practicing a forced landing in nearby open fields.
After successfully completing a practice landing in one field, the aircraft climbed back to approximately 250 ft. At this altitude, the commander initiated a simulated engine failure by instructing the student to close the throttle and announcing that the engine had stopped. The intention was for the student to immediately lower the aircraft's nose and head toward a second field located directly ahead. Instead, the student began a right turn toward a different field. As the aircraft descended, the student continued the turn rather than leveling off to approach the intended area. The commander applied power to the engine, but the aircraft's right mainwheel struck tall grass, causing the aircraft to ground-loop.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the accident report submitted by the pilot. Investigators examined the flight path and the sequence of maneuvers performed during the training session. The investigation focused on the actions of both the student and the commander during the critical moments following the simulated engine failure.
Findings
- The two crew members sustained minor injuries.
- The aircraft was damaged beyond economic repair.
- The primary cause of the accident was the commander's delay in taking control of the aircraft from the student when sufficient time remained to avoid the ground contact.
- The student's unexpected choice of landing field following the simulated failure contributed to the event.