What happened
On 25 April 2015, a Z-1RA Stummelflitzer, registration G-ZIRA, was performing a private flight at White Waltham Airfield in Berkshire. During the approach to grass Runway 25, the aircraft encountered an 8 kt wind from 250°. Upon touching down at an airspeed of 50 kt, the aircraft experienced a bounce, prompting the pilot to apply a small amount of forward stick for correction.
As the aircraft made a second contact with the ground, the pilot applied the brakes. This action caused the tail-skid design aircraft to nose over onto its back. The aircraft sustained damage to the engine mounting, firewall, propeller, fin, and rudder. The pilot, who was wearing a protective helmet and a full harness, was able to exit the aircraft without any injuries.
The investigation
The investigation examined the pilot's recent experience and the circumstances surrounding the braking application. The pilot had acquired ownership of the aircraft only six days before the event, having completed only five hours of flight time and 16 landings on this specific type. The pilot noted that the braking action on the aircraft did not feel particularly powerful and had attempted to use new footwear on the day of the accident to improve tactile feedback through the pedals.
Findings
Several contributing factors were identified in the sequence of events. The pilot's lack of experience on this specific aircraft type played a role, alongside a reversion to braking techniques typically used for tricycle gear aircraft when operating on short runways. Additionally, the use of new shoes, intended to enhance pedal feel, contributed to an excessive application of the brakes during the landing roll.