What happened
On 16 July 2018, a Spitfire MkT IX, registration G-ILDA, was completing a passenger flight at Goodwood Aerodrome in Sussex. After touching down on Runway 14, the aircraft began to drift from the centerline toward the left side of the runway. In an attempt to stabilize the aircraft, the pilot applied gentle braking, but this caused the aircraft to veer sharply to the right, into the wind.
Despite the application of full left rudder and braking, the aircraft rotated approximately 90 degrees. During this maneuver, the left main landing gear collapsed, the right gear partially failed, and the propeller tips struck the ground. The left flap also sustained distortion. Both the pilot and the passenger were able to exit the aircraft safely and sustained no injuries.
The investigation
The AAIB examined the circumstances surrounding the runway conditions and the aircraft's behavior during the ground loop. At the time of the accident, Runway 24 was out of service, necessitating the use of Runway 14. The investigation noted that recent periods of intense heat and dry weather had degraded the runway surface, resulting in a mix of patchy grass and hard, dry areas.
Evidence from the left wheel indicated that it had locked and was sliding across the surface as the aircraft swung. As the aircraft turned, the left wheel was positioned side-on to the direction of travel. The combination of this lateral friction, the aircraft's momentum, and the uneven surface caused the left landing gear leg to buckle inward under the fuselage.