What happened
During an approach to Enoch Thulin Airport in Landskrona, a SportStar RTC encountered significant wind conditions. At the time of the incident, the local weather station reported a near full crosswind with average speeds of 16 knots and gusts reaching 20 knots. This exceeded the aircraft's maximum demonstrated crosswind component of 18 knots.
While attempting to land using a sideslip technique, the pilot aborted the initial approach due to heavy gusts on short final. During a second attempt, the pilot utilized large rudder deflections to maintain the runway centerline. As the aircraft entered the flare phase, a strong gust from the right caused the aircraft to roll. In an effort to execute a go-around, the pilot applied maximum throttle and pulled the stick backward. However, the aircraft entered a rapid, uncontrollable roll to the left. The aircraft struck the ground upside down, with the propeller and wings making contact, before coming to rest upright on a taxiway. The pilot sustained extensive injuries to the face and foot, while a passenger suffered superficial cuts. The aircraft was substantially damaged.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the aerodynamic response of the aircraft to the wind and the pilot's control inputs during the critical transition to a go-around. Investigators examined the aircraft's design characteristics, specifically noting that the SportStar RTC has low wing loading and a narrow wingspan. These features make the model particularly sensitive to turbulence and gusts, particularly regarding roll movement. The investigation also looked into the pilot's familiarity with this specific aircraft type under challenging meteorological conditions and the availability of real-time wind data at the airfield.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the sudden stalling of the left wing, triggered by large rudder and opposite aileron deflections during the go-around maneuver combined with insufficient airspeed.
- The pilot's lack of experience operating this specific aircraft type in difficult wind conditions contributed to the loss of control.
- The wind conditions, specifically the gust strength, were near the maximum demonstrated limits for the aircraft.
- A lack of current wind information, beyond observing the windsock, meant the pilot was not fully aware that gust strengths were approaching the aircraft's operational limits.