Summary
On 26 April 2006, a Cessna 152 (registration G-IAFT) operated by a private pilot with 76 hours total flight experience was on a private flight from Newtownards, County Down, Northern Ireland. Following a normal approach, the aircraft ballooned during the flare. The pilot initiated a go-around with full power and raised the flaps. Shortly thereafter, the left wing dropped, struck the ground, and the aircraft turned over onto its back. Both occupants sustained minor bruising. The aircraft was extensively damaged and subsequently assessed as beyond economical repair.
History of the Flight
This was the pilot's first flight after receiving his Private Pilot's Licence and his first flight with a passenger. The pilot made a normal approach to Runway 22 at Newtownards at 65 kt, selecting three stages of flap (30°) at 300 ft aal and moving the carburettor heat to cold. As the wheels were about to touch down, the aircraft ballooned. The pilot selected full power and commenced a go-around. He reported that the engine appeared slow to respond and that the aircraft initially adopted a level attitude before starting to climb. He then raised the flaps by one stage and shortly afterwards became aware that the airspeed was rapidly decreasing. He attempted to lower the aircraft's nose, but before he could regain airspeed, the left wing dropped, struck the ground, and the aircraft turned over onto its back. Both occupants vacated through the normal exits. The airport and local fire service attended.
The Chief Flying Instructor (CFI) of the pilot's flying club observed the go-around and noted the aircraft flying slowly approximately 10 to 15 ft off the ground in a nose-high attitude. The aircraft drifted left of the runway, then appeared to stall and enter an incipient spin to the left. The left wing and nose impacted the ground, and the aircraft slid before turning over.
Weather at the time was good with a wind velocity of 220° to 240° at a steady 10 kt.
Assessment
After the accident, the throttle was found fully open, and the flaps and flap selector were in the fully retracted position. Photographic evidence confirmed the flaps were fully retracted. Ground marks and damage were consistent with the left wing striking the ground and the aircraft sliding for approximately 60 metres before the nose dug into grass, causing it to turn over. The engineer assessed the aircraft as damaged beyond economical repair.
Damage to the propeller blades and cut marks in the ground indicated that the engine was producing some power when the propeller struck the ground. There was sufficient runway remaining for the pilot to have landed without a go-around.
Flap System
The Cessna 152 is equipped with slotted flaps electrically operated to three stages: 10°, 20°, and 30°. The flap selector lever is mounted on the instrument panel adjacent to the throttle. The slot has two indentations restricting movement when flaps are extended. Moving to the first stage (10°) requires vertical movement; selecting second or third stage requires moving the lever right before downward movement. There is no restriction on upward movement, so a pilot intending to move flaps from 30° to 20° could inadvertently move the selector to the fully retracted position.
Comments
A characteristic of the Cessna 152 is that a go-around with 30° of flap selected causes a considerable trim change when full power is applied. One immediate action is to retract flaps from 30° to 20° to reduce control forces and improve climb performance. The pilot had been taught to commence a go-around without delay after ballooning and selected full power, intending to move flaps from 30° to 20°. However, witness accounts and photographic evidence indicated that when the aircraft stalled, the flaps were fully retracted. It is probable that the pilot inadvertently retracted the flaps fully and then continued the climb at an airspeed too low for that configuration.
Since the accident, the pilot has undergone further training in slow-speed flight and go-around procedures.