What happened
On 6 May 2012, a Europa XS, registration G-WIKI, was conducting a private flight in favorable weather conditions near Sleap Airfield, Shropshire. The weather was characterized by good visibility and calm air. During the flight, the pilot was required to perform a go-around on the initial approach because the runway was occupied by another aircraft.
A similar situation occurred during the second approach attempt. On the third approach, while the pilot was making the 'downwind' call on the Air/Ground frequency, another aircraft requested a straight-in approach. This interaction caused a distraction for the pilot.
Upon landing, the aircraft was traveling at an excessive speed, which led to a bounce on the runway. This was followed by several subsequent bounces. During these maneuvers, the propeller struck the ground, which caused the engine to stop. The aircraft eventually came to a halt on the runway. Both occupants, wearing full harnesses, exited the aircraft via the standard doors without injury.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. The examination focused on the sequence of landings and the impact of radio communications on the pilot's concentration. The investigation established that the aircraft sustained damage to the propeller, the main landing gear, and the forward fuselage.