What happened
On 13 May 2018, a Zenair Ch 601ULA Zodiac, registration G-CIWS, was performing a private flight returning to North Moor Airfield in Lincolnshire. The pilot, anticipating turbulence due to thermal activity on the warm day, was executing a final approach to the grass Runway 2t7. The pilot estimated a wind from 300º at approximately 9 knots.
To avoid nearby power lines located roughly 225 m from the airfield boundary, the pilot maintained a higher altitude before steepening the approach to target the runway threshold. During this maneuver, the aircraft experienced an unexpected loss of altitude. Despite an attempt to compensate by increasing engine power, the aircraft struck a hedge at the eastern edge of the airfield. After passing through the hedge, the aircraft narrowly missed a parked vehicle, at which point the nose landing gear collapsed. The aircraft eventually came to a stop near the runway threshold. The pilot evacuated the aircraft via the canopy and sustained no injuries.
The investigation
The investigation examined the flight path, the environmental conditions, and the aircraft's performance. The pilot noted that the presence of hangars and buildings to the north of the runway threshold could influence wind patterns. The investigation considered the possibility that the north-westerly wind may have been deflected by these structures, creating localized atmospheric disturbances.
Findings
- The aircraft sustained damage beyond economic repair.
- The pilot encountered a strong downdraught likely caused by the wind curling over buildings and hangars located north of the runway threshold.
- The pilot's decision to steepen the approach and aim for the threshold, combined with the encounter with the downdraught, contributed to the collision with the hedge.