What happened
On 28 July 2022, a Rearwin 8125 Cloudster, registration G-EVLE, was involved in an accident during landing at RAF Marham, Norfolk. While touching down in conditions featuring a moderate crosswind, the pilot encountered a severe rightward yaw that could not be corrected despite the application of full left rudder.
In an attempt to maintain directional control, the pilot applied the left brake. This action caused the aircraft to pitch over onto its back. There were no reported fatalities or injuries resulting from the incident.
The investigation
Following the occurrence, investigators examined the aircraft's braking system and control mechanisms. The investigation established that the pilot encountered significant difficulty operating the heel-operated disc brakes while simultaneously maintaining full rudder input. Upon inspection of the aircraft during the recovery process, the brake was found to be in a seized state.