Introduction
On 23 October 2010 at approximately 1130 UTC, a Europa XS aircraft, registration G-KDCC, was involved in an accident during landing at a private airstrip at Sewards Hall Farm, Dunmow, Essex. The aircraft sustained damage to its wings, propeller, and fuselage. The pilot and the sole passenger were uninjured. The flight was private.
History of the Flight
The aircraft was kept at the airstrip and had been repaired after a previous heavy landing. Earlier that day, a Light Aircraft Association (LAA) inspector conducted a check flight, during which the aircraft performed satisfactorily. The owner, who held a National Private Pilot’s Licence and had 387 flying hours (35 on type), had not flown since April 2010. The inspector advised him to take an experienced Europa pilot as a passenger, which he did. The passenger was a qualified pilot but not an instructor.
Landing Technique
The pilot had previously used a technique of closing the throttle just before the threshold and flaring with one hand ready to adjust the power. However, he had been advised that the throttle should not be closed for landing and that power should be maintained. For the accident landing, he adopted this latter technique, which resulted in a higher landing speed than intended. The aircraft’s Owner’s Manual instructed to reduce power over the threshold to flare and touch down at 45-50 kts, but did not clarify whether to fully close the throttle.
Accident Sequence
The weather was benign with good visibility and a light south-easterly wind. The pilot chose Runway 22 for takeoff, which was approximately 500 metres long with a grass surface and a downhill gradient of 1:300. After a flight of 20-30 minutes, the aircraft returned. Following a discussion with the passenger, the pilot selected Runway 04 for landing, which involved a tailwind component. An eyewitness observed the approach and saw several pilot-induced oscillations. When the landing did not proceed well, the passenger suggested a go-around. The pilot applied power, but the aircraft overran the runway and impacted a fence at the end.
Discussion
Several factors were identified in the investigation. The pilot had not flown for six months, and the flight was his first after a period of inactivity. He had not completed three takeoffs and landings in the preceding 90 days, which required him to fly solo or with an instructor. The interaction between the pilot and the passenger, who was a qualified pilot but not an instructor, may have influenced the outcome. The pilot’s decision to adopt an unfamiliar landing technique and to land with a downwind component were also noted as potential contributors. The Owner’s Manual did not provide clear guidance on throttle use during landing.