What happened
On 2 October 2014, a Vans RV-8, registration G-NRFK, was conducting a dual conversion training flight at Norwich Airport. The weather during the flight was clear with light, variable winds of 3 to 5 knots.
According to the flight crew, the approach was stable and the touchdown was smooth, which the instructor noted as being typical for this aircraft type. However, as the aircraft slowed down on the runway, it began to drift toward the right. In an attempt to maintain the centerline, the pilot applied increasing left rudder. This correction caused the aircraft to yaw sharply to the left, resulting in a ground loop at an estimated speed of 30 knots. The aircraft eventually came to a halt on the runway.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of events during the landing roll. It was established that while the initial landing phase was performed correctly, the subsequent directional control was lost during deceleration. The investigation confirmed that there were no injuries to the pilot or the passenger, and the aircraft sustained damage only to the main wheel fairings.