Accident Details
The aircraft involved was a Gemini Flash IIA, registration G-MVGM, manufactured in 1988 and powered by a single Rotax 503 piston engine. The flight was private, with one pilot and one passenger on board. The pilot held a National Private Pilot's Licence and had accumulated 124 flying hours, including 2 hours on type, with 6 hours in the preceding 90 and 28 days.
Sequence of Events
On 31 July 2011 at 1200 UTC, after an uneventful local flight, the pilot landed at Cromer Airfield, Norfolk, on grass Runway 22. The landing was reported as smooth, but as the aircraft's speed decreased, the trike veered to the left. The pilot's corrective action initiated an oscillation that caused the aircraft to tip onto its left side and nose at an estimated speed of between 10 and 15 mph.
Occupant Safety
Both the pilot and passenger wore helmets. The pilot was secured with a lap strap, while the passenger used a full harness. Neither occupant sustained injury.
Damage
The accident resulted in damage to the keel tube in the wing, control bar, monopole, right wing, and pod.
Pilot's Observations
The pilot considered that, given the low speed, it might have been better to allow the trike to continue into the adjoining stubble field rather than correcting the initial left turn. He also reported that a subsequent examination of the trike found no pre-existing failures, but noted that general levels of wear may have contributed to the event.
Examination Findings
The post-accident examination did not identify any pre-existing mechanical failures. However, general wear was noted as a possible contributing factor.