Aircraft and Flight Details
The aircraft involved was an Aero AT-3 R100, registration G-SACY, manufactured in 2007 (serial no: AT3-029). It was powered by a single Rotax 912-S2 piston engine. The flight was a training sortie, with only the student pilot on board. The pilot, aged 50, held a student licence and had accumulated 31 hours of total flying experience, all on type. In the 90 days preceding the accident, he had flown 6 hours, with no flying in the last 28 days.
Accident Sequence
On 9 March 2014 at 1515 UTC, the student had returned to flying after a 60-day break. He initially flew for 35 minutes with an instructor, completing three circuits. The instructor then briefed him to continue solo with touch-and-go circuits and to return the aircraft to the airfield fuel pump by 1530 hrs.
The student successfully flew three circuits, but conducted a go-around on the third due to circuit activity. While on downwind for the fourth circuit, he noted it was 1515 hrs and decided to make this his last landing. The student reported that he realized late on the approach that he was too high and fast, resulting in a touchdown beyond his normal aiming point. He believed the aircraft had made a firm touchdown but did not immediately recognize it had bounced until it started porpoising, by which time it was too late to initiate a go-around. The aircraft subsequently landed on its nosewheel, causing the nose leg to collapse and detach from the aircraft. Two propeller blades were also damaged, and the engine was shock-loaded.
Aftermath
The pilot sustained no injuries. Following the accident, the Chief Flying Instructor (CFI) of the flying club conducted a review of the revision training that instructors should carry out if a student has not flown for a significant period.