Engine failure and excursion during approach at Dover

Casualties unknown • Inglenook Farm, Dover, Kent, GB

A Savannah VG Jabiru aircraft experienced dual engine failures and a lateral excursion during its final approach at a farm in Kent, resulting in damage to the airframe.

What happened

On 18 June 2015, a Savannah VG Jabiru, registration G-CCSV, was conducting a private flight to renew a permit to fly. While on final approach to Runway 33 at a height of roughly 100 ft, the single Jabiru 2200 engine ceased operation. Although the pilot managed to restart the engine, it failed a second time when the aircraft was at approximately 40 ft above the ground.

During the landing phase, the aircraft experienced a sudden lateral displacement that moved it left of the runway centerline. In an attempt to manage the approach, the pilot may have over-corrected, causing the aircraft to swing right and then back to the left once the wheels made contact with the ground. The aircraft subsequently struck a hedge and performed a 180-degree turn before coming to a stop with the cockpit and right wing embedded in the vegetation. There were no injuries to the pilot or the passenger.

The investigation

The AAIB examined the circumstances surrounding the engine failures and the erratic flight path. The investigation focused on the sequence of the two engine stoppages and the sudden movement of the aircraft away from the runway centerline. The aircraft sustained damage to its wings and landing gear during the excursion.

Probable cause

The investigation could not determine the specific reason for the engine failures or the cause of the sudden lateral displacement during the approach.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2015-06-18 Savannah VG Jabiru(1) accident near Inglenook Farm, Dover, Kent, GB?

A Savannah VG Jabiru aircraft experienced dual engine failures and a lateral excursion during its final approach at a farm in Kent, resulting in damage to the airframe.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2015-06-18 involved a Savannah VG Jabiru(1), registration G-CCSV, at Inglenook Farm, Dover, Kent, GB.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The investigation could not determine the specific reason for the engine failures or the cause of the sudden lateral displacement during the approach.

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