What happened
On 18 June 2016, a Rans S6 Coyote II, registration G-BSMU, departed Benston Farm airstrip in Cumnock, Ayrshire, for a scheduled 20-minute local flight. The aircraft was carrying the pilot and one passenger. During the flight, the pilot encountered significant turbulence, describing the air as very bumpy. Due to these conditions, the decision was made to terminate the flight and return to the farm after approximately 15 minutes.
As the aircraft approached the runway, it crossed a line of trees at an altitude of roughly 50 ft. At this point, the pilot encountered a high sink rate and found the aircraft increasingly difficult to manage. The resulting landing was severe; the aircraft struck the runway with significant force, bounced, and then settled back onto the surface, impacting nosewheel first. While the impact caused the nosewheel to detach and damaged the upper and lower engine cowlings, there were no injuries to the occupants.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. Investigators examined the flight conditions and the pilot's handling of the aircraft during the final approach. The pilot noted that the sink rate experienced during the descent was the highest he had encountered during his flying experience.
Findings
- The aircraft experienced a sudden and significant increase in sink rate during the final stages of the approach.
- The pilot's control of the Rans S6 Coyote II was compromised by the turbulence and the high rate of descent.
- The pilot failed to execute a go-around despite the challenging flight conditions and the difficulty in maintaining control of the aircraft.