Aircraft and Pilot Information
The accident involved a Europa monowheel aircraft, registration G-SHSH, manufactured in 2002. It was powered by a single Rotax 912-UL piston engine. The commander held an Air Transport Pilot's Licence with a Single Engine Piston Flight Instructor's Rating and had 5,738 total flying hours, including 1 hour on the accident type. His recent flying experience included 52 hours in the last 90 days and 6 hours in the last 28 days. The second pilot, the aircraft owner, regularly flew the Europa.
History of the Flight
The flight was a training sortie for a biennial validation check on the second pilot. The commander had no prior experience on the Europa type. The flight used Runway 08 at Kemble Airfield, which had an asphalt surface. After the validation check was completed, the commander took control and flew a normal circuit.
Landing Incident
Upon touchdown, the aircraft bounced slightly. Once on the ground, it began to oscillate in pitch and yaw. The commander was unable to correct these oscillations, which became divergent. The propeller struck the ground, causing a rapid yaw to the left. The right wing tip scraped the ground, and the aircraft came to a stop approximately 90 degrees off the runway heading.
Outcome
Both pilots were wearing 4-point harnesses and were uninjured. They evacuated the aircraft through normal exits. The damage consisted of broken propeller blades and minor damage to the right wing tip.
Contributing Factors
The commander attributed the accident to his lack of experience on the Europa type. Although he had previous tailwheel aircraft experience, the Europa's landing gear configuration—a single main wheel, a tailwheel, and wing outriggers—has unique handling characteristics. The AAIB noted that since 2000, nine groundloop occurrences involving the Europa had been reported, mostly to pilots with less than 20 hours on type when landing on asphalt or concrete. Guidance from the Europa Club and the Popular Flying Association emphasizes gaining experience on grass strips before transitioning to hard runways.