What happened
On 24 March 2000, a Europa aircraft, registration G-MKPU, was involved in a fatal accident at Upwood Airfield, Cambridgeshire. The aircraft, which was being prepared for a certification test flight programme, was undergoing ground testing following engine runs and taxi tests conducted earlier that day. The pilot, who had no prior experience on this specific type, was in the cockpit during a period when the aircraft was intended to be undergoing further taxiing on the grass runway.
During the event, the aircraft became airborne and traveled a distance from the runway. A witness reported seeing an aircraft performing a low-altitude, flat-topped loop over the airfield. The aircraft subsequently struck the ground in an inverted position, approximately 700 feet from the centerline of the grass runway. The impact resulted in the destruction of the aircraft and the death of the pilot.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage and the aircraft's configuration. They found that the aircraft's tailplane trim was set to a position near full nose-up. The investigation also noted that the pilot was not wearing a safety harness at the time of the accident.
Analysis of the ground marks at the impact site indicated that the aircraft was in a steep bank of approximately 70 to 80 degrees and was descending at a rate of 800 feet per minute. The evidence suggested the aircraft was flying at a low speed, likely near its stalling threshold, at the moment of impact. The investigation also considered the meteorological conditions, noting a surface wind of 16 knots.
Findings
- The aircraft became airborne inadvertently, a possibility previously cautioned against in the aircraft's owner's manual.
- The tailplane trim was set to a near full nose-up position, which, when combined with ground effect, would cause the aircraft to pitch up aggressively as it climbed away from the ground.
- The pilot's lack of experience on the Europa type made it difficult to apply the necessary nose-down corrective action to prevent the stall.
- The pilot was not wearing a safety harness, and the severity of the impact was such that the accident was likely unsurvivable regardless.