What happened
On 26 April 2006, a Cessna 152, registration G-IAFT, was performing a private flight near Newtownards, County Down, Northern Ireland. During the approach to Runway 22, the pilot maintained a speed of 65 kt and configured the aircraft with 30 degrees of flaps. As the aircraft reached the flare, it ballooned off the runway surface. In response, the pilot applied full power and initiated a go-around procedure.
The pilot reported that the engine response was sluggish. While attempting the climb, the pilot moved the flaps from 30 degrees to 20 degrees. During this process, the airspeed began to drop rapidly. Before the pilot could lower the aircraft's nose to regain speed, the left wing dropped, striking the ground. The impact caused the aircraft to slide approximately 60 metres before turning over onto its back. The pilot and one passenger sustained minor bruising, but no fatalities occurred.
The investigation
Investigators examined the aircraft's configuration and the mechanical operation of the flap selector. Post-accident inspections revealed that the throttle was in the fully open position and the flaps were in the fully retracted position. While no engine inspection was performed, damage to the propeller and marks in the ground suggested the engine was producing power at the moment of impact.
The investigation focused on the movement of the flap selector lever. The Cessna 152 features a selector lever with two indentations that restrict upward movement when flaps are extended. However, the mechanism allows for movement that could lead to accidental retraction. Evidence from the scene and photographs suggested that the pilot likely moved the lever into the fully retracted position rather than the intended 20-degree setting.
Findings
- The pilot attempted a go-around following a ballooning event during the landing flare.
- The pilot likely inadvertently retracted the flaps fully while attempting to reduce them from 30 to 20 degrees.
- The aircraft was flying at an airspeed insufficient for the fully retracted flap configuration.
- The left wing tip struck the ground, leading to the aircraft sliding and overturning.