What happened
On 3 May 2013, an EV-97 Eurostar, registration G-CDNI, was involved in an accident during a private flight at Landmead Farm Strip, Oxfordshire. While the aircraft was parked at Shoreham prior to the flight, an Apache helicopter landed in the vicinity. The movement of the helicopter caused the Eurostar to swerve left, resulting in the nose leg and the right main gear member being lifted off the ground multiple times.
During the subsequent flight to Landmead, the pilot performed a rapid pre-flight inspection due to the imminent departure of the Apache helicopter. Upon landing at Landmead Farm Strip, the pilot applied the brakes, which caused the aircraft to swerving left again. This maneuver led to the collapse of the nose leg and the right main gear, resulting in damage to the landing gear and the propeller.
The investigation
Investigators examined the circumstances surrounding the aircraft's condition prior to departure and the mechanics of the landing at Landmead. The investigation established that the aircraft had been subjected to physical movement while stationary at Shoreham due to the nearby helicopter landing. The pilot noted that the pre-flight checks performed before departing for Oxfordshire were abbreviated because of the need to depart before the Apache helicopter began its engine start-up sequence.
Findings
- The aircraft's landing gear and propeller sustained damage during the landing roll at Landmead.
- The abbreviated pre-flight inspection may have failed to identify damage sustained while the aircraft was parked at Shoreham.
- The movement of the aircraft at Shoreham was caused by the landing of an Apache helicopter nearby.