What happened
On 20 April 2008, an Evans VP-1 aircraft, registration G-BFJJ, was performing a private flight from a farm strip at Farley Farm Airfield near Winchester. The pilot had prepared the aircraft for a short flight to practice circuits, maintaining a maximum takeoff weight of 340 kg.
During the flight, while crossing a small valley, the aircraft encountered a significant downdraft. Despite the engine operating at full power and an airspeed of 70 kt, the pilot determined that the aircraft could not safely clear the far side of the valley. Consequently, a forced landing was initiated into a nearby field.
During the landing sequence, the right main landing gear collapsed, causing the right wing tip to strike the ground and the aircraft to spin. The impact caused the top of the bulkhead—which housed the rear wing strut carry-through structure and the pilot's shoulder harness attachment—to fail. This structural failure caused the pilot to lose shoulder restraint, resulting in minor head injuries as the pilot's head moved toward the instrument panel.
The investigation
The AAIB examined the structural integrity of the aircraft's cockpit area and the failure of the bulkhead. The investigation focused on the point where the shoulder harness was anchored to the airframe. It was established that the failure of the bulkhead, which included the rear wing strut carry-through structure, was the direct cause of the pilot becoming unrestrained at the shoulders during the impact.
Findings
- The aircraft encountered a significant downdraught while traversing a valley, necessitating the emergency landing.
- The collapse of the right landing gear and the subsequent wing strike caused substantial damage to the aircraft.
- The structural failure of the bulkhead led to the detachment of the shoulder harness attachment from the airframe.
- The pilot was no longer restrained at the shoulders due to this structural failure, leading to minor head injuries.
Safety action
The AAIB issued Safety Recommendation 2009-001, advising the Civil Aviation Authority and the Light Aircraft Association to review the design of shoulder harness attachments on the Evans VP-1 to ensure pilots remain adequately restrained during accident conditions.