What happened
On 3 August 2018, a Team Minimax 91, registration G-MYBM, was performing a private flight at Manchester Barton Airport. During the landing sequence on runway 26L, the pilot reduced the engine to idle power while in the flare. This action caused the aircraft to descend at a rate significantly higher than the pilot had anticipated. Consequently, the aircraft struck the runway with excessive force, resulting in structural damage where the top longerons were found to be cracked.
The investigation
The investigation examined the flight circumstances and the pilot's recent flying history. It was noted that this was the pilot's first flight in this specific aircraft type. While the pilot had reviewed instructional notes for the aircraft prior to the flight, he did not recall any specific warnings regarding the descent characteristics when power is reduced. The pilot's recent experience included tailwheel differences training completed in April 2018, but his primary flying background consisted of larger, factory-built aircraft such as the Slingsby T67 and Piper PA-28.
Findings
- The primary cause of the heavy landing was the unexpectedly high descent rate following the reduction of power to idle during the flare.
- The aircraft's design, being a small and light aircraft, possesses higher drag and lower inertia compared to traditional general aviation aircraft, leading to different handling characteristics.
- The pilot was operating the aircraft for the first time, which contributed to the lack of familiarity with these specific aerodynamic responses.