What happened
On 28 August 2009, a CAP 10B, registration G-CPXC, was conducting a dual instructional flight at Old Sarum Airfield in Wiltshire. During the landing roll on Runway 24, the student pilot experienced difficulty managing the aircraft due to gusty surface winds, which were recorded at 15 knots from 260° and gusting to 25 knots. To stabilize the aircraft, the instructor took control of the flight.
As the aircraft slowed to taxi speed and began a 45° turn to the right, the instructor applied taxi power. At this moment, the tail suddenly lifted. The instructor, fearing an imminent propeller strike, attempted to manage the movement, though he noted that the control column may not have been held fully aft during the event.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. The examination focused on the sequence of events during the landing roll and the impact of the wind conditions on the aircraft's stability. The investigation established that the tailwheel mounting was broken and the bottom of the rudder sustained damage during the incident.
Findings
- The aircraft was operating in gusty conditions with wind gusts reaching 25 knots.
- The sudden lifting of the tail occurred while taxi power was being applied during a turn.
- The primary cause of the damage was a sudden, unexpected gust of wind that caused the tail to lift abruptly.