What happened
On 7 April 2011, a Bolkow BO 208C Junior, registration G-BOKW, was performing a private flight returning to the Lodge Farm airstrip near Clacton, Essex. While on the final approach for Runway 36, the pilot observed what appeared to be white bags positioned near the edge of the runway. These markers, actually placed by a local farmer to indicate boggy ground, were mistaken for white swans grazing by the runway.
To avoid any potential contact with the birds, the pilot decided to apply power to lift the aircraft off the ground while still in ground effect. The pilot maintained a moderately high nose-up attitude as the aircraft passed the area. However, as the aircraft descended, the nose struck the ground with significant force. This impact resulted in a bent nosewheel fork, damage to the propeller, and shock-loading of the engine. There were no injuries to the pilot during the incident.
The investigation
The AAIB examined the circumstances surrounding the landing and the pilot's maneuvers. The investigation established that the pilot's attempt to avoid the perceived swans led to a flight path that compromised the landing stability. The pilot noted that the aircraft effectively "pancaked" onto the runway after the nose dropped rapidly following the initial impact.
Findings
- The pilot misidentified a pair of grazing swans as white bags used as runway markers.
- The decision to apply power and lift off to avoid the swans resulted in a nose-high attitude during the descent.
- The tailskid likely contacted the ground while the aircraft was in this nose-high attitude, causing the nose landing gear to strike the runway surface.