What happened
On 21 April 2011, a Beechcraft C24R, registered OO-E\* , was performing a landing at Zwartberg airfield (EBZW). The pilot, who was primarily accustomed to operating out of much larger airports like Charleroi, was executing an approach to Runway 21. During the final stages of the approach, the pilot realized the aircraft was too high above the threshold.
In an attempt to correct the situation, the pilot decided to abort the landing. Upon applying full throttle to initiate a go-around, the aircraft experienced a sudden and severe leftward bank. The left wing made contact with the ground, causing the aircraft to crash approximately 41 meters from the runway edge. The pilot sustained serious injuries, including a broken nose and a broken hip, and was subsequently evacuated from the wreckage by bystanders.
The investigation
The AAIU(Be) investigation focused on the aircraft's configuration and the pilot's flight experience. Investigators found that the aircraft was airworthy and the pilot held a valid license. However, the investigation noted that the pilot's experience was largely centered on much longer runways, and he had limited familiarity with the specific challenges of shorter airfields like EBZW.
At the moment of the accident, the aircraft was configured with flaps fully extended in the landing position. The investigation examined the aerodynamic forces at play during the sudden application of power, specifically looking at how engine torque and P-factor might have contributed to the roll.
Findings
- The approach to the runway was too high.
- The decision to reject the landing was made too late.
- The pilot failed to adequately counteract the aircraft's roll during the go-around.
- The high drag from the extended flaps, combined with sudden engine power, made the aircraft highly sensitive to engine torque and P-factor, leading to the left wing stalling and striking the ground.