What happened
On 25 June 2018, a Rans S6S-116 Super Six Coyote II, registration G-XALZ, was conducting a training flight at Fishburn Airfield, County Durham. The flight involved a pilot and a local instructor performing circuit practice. While on short finals for Runway 08, the aircraft experienced a sudden drop of the right wing. Although the pilot attempted to correct the imbalance and applied power, the left wing subsequently dropped, causing the aircraft to descend rapidly.
The aircraft touched down just before the runway threshold. During the landing roll, the left wheel struck a slight rise in the surface, which caused the left landing gear leg to shear off. The aircraft continued to slide along the runway with the left wingtip dragging on the ground, eventually coming to a halt 10 metres along the runway, positioned at a 90-degree angle to the centre line. There were no injuries to the two occupants.
The investigation
The investigation examined the aircraft's mechanical condition and the environmental factors present during the approach. The aircraft sustained damage including a fractured propeller, a rippled left wingtip, and the loss of the left landing gear. Investigators noted that the runway at Fishburn features a significant slope, with the threshold of Runway 08 situated at the top of this incline.
During the investigation, it was noted that an easterly wind can induce turbulence and rotor effects at this location. Both the pilot and the instructor suggested that turbulence may have impacted the aircraft's stability. The pilot also reflected that a higher approach altitude might have provided more time to respond to such atmospheric disturbances.
Findings
- The aircraft's left landing gear leg broke away after the wheel encountered a slight rise in the runway surface.
- The aircraft was subject to atmospheric instability, likely caused by turbulence or rotor effects resulting from the wind direction and runway topography.
- The aircraft sustained damage to the propeller blades and the left wingtip.