What happened
During a scheduled training mission departing from RAF Binbrook and bound for RAF Leeming, an aircraft experienced a mechanical failure during the landing phase. As the aircraft made contact with the runway, the tail wheel became detached from the airframe. This structural failure caused the plane to veer uncontrollably across the runway surface.
The incident concluded when the aircraft came to a stop after losing directional control. While the two crew members on board escaped the event without any injuries, the aircraft sustained extensive damage. Due to the severity of the impact and the resulting structural issues, the airframe was declared a total loss and deemed beyond repair.
Findings
- The primary factor in the loss of directional control was the detachment of the tail wheel during touchdown.
- Environmental conditions at the time of the accident included significant crosswinds, which likely complicated the recovery of the aircraft once the mechanical failure occurred.