Introduction
On 31 March 2000 at 1800 UTC, a private Europa XS aircraft, registration G-ROOV, was performing circuit training at Shobdon Aerodrome, Herefordshire. The aircraft, built in 1999, was powered by one Rotax 914UL piston engine. It featured a single mainwheel undercarriage with outriggers and a steerable tailwheel; the design also allows for a tricycle landing gear configuration. The pilot undergoing conversion training held an Airline Transport Pilots Licence, was 47 years old, and had 9,120 total flying hours, with 60 hours on type (30 hours in the last 28 days). The conversion was conducted under the CAA-approved Popular Flying Association Coaching Scheme.
Incident Details
The aircraft landed on Runway 27, which has an asphalt surface. Weather conditions were dry with good visibility, and the surface wind was from 240° to 270° at less than 5 kt. After a successful touchdown on the fourth landing of a planned one-hour training detail, the left wing dropped and contacted the runway surface. The pilot applied full right rudder to counter a swing to the left, which caused the aircraft to swing back toward the runway. Under braking, the aircraft swung further and tipped onto its nose, damaging two of the three propeller blades. The aircraft then settled back onto its tail wheel with the engine stopped.
Post-Incident Observations
Upon vacating the aircraft, the left outrigger was found to be locked down but showed marks indicating it had been bent backwards. No injuries were sustained, and the aircraft was taxied back to the hangar under its own power. The PFA coaching pilot had kept his hands free from the controls during the approach and instructed the owner to complete the landing unassisted. The coaching pilot believed the owner completed a successful touchdown but then relaxed concentration and failed to stop the initial swing. The owner opined that the left outrigger may have temporarily unlocked, possibly due to a misrig of the left outrigger mechanism, allowing the left wing to contact the ground. The owner did not investigate further as he planned to modify the aircraft to the tricycle landing gear configuration, which has less challenging ground handling qualities.
Previous Incident
This aircraft had experienced a similar incident on 16 March 2000 with the same handling pilot. On that occasion, only slight damage to the paint on the port aileron was sustained.