What happened
On 7 July 1998, an Avro Avion, registration VH-UFZ, was conducting a private flight into a farm strip located at Moat Farm, Milden, Suffolk. The airfield featured a North/South runway, and at the time of the approach, winds were recorded from the south-west at 5 to 10 knots. Due to the notable gradient of the runway surface, the pilot utilized a 36-degree heading for the landing.
As the aircraft reached the roundout phase, it began to drift toward the right side of the runway. The pilot evaluated the possibility of performing a go-around; however, the upward slope of the runway made this maneuver unfeasible. Before directional control could be restored, the right wingtip struck standing corn located on the edge of the strip. This impact caused the aircraft to swing sharply to the right, ultimately resulting in the aircraft coming to rest in an inverted position.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. The inquiry focused on the aircraft's movement during the final stages of the landing and the environmental factors present at the airfield. The pilot noted that the aircraft sustained substantial damage during the event, though no injuries were reported to the sole occupant.
Findings
- The landing was conducted with a tailwind component due to the south-westerly wind direction.
- The significant slope of the runway prevented a successful go-around once the drift began.
- The loss of rudder authority occurred because the tailwheel had not yet become effective, a condition exacerbated by the tailwind.
- The aircraft's right wingtip made contact with crops on the runway margin, leading to the loss of control and subsequent inversion.