What happened
On 15 May 2004, a Gould-Taylorcraft, registration G-AHCR, was involved in an incident at Dunkeswell Airfield in Devon. The aircraft, powered by a single Continental Motors Corp C90-14F engine, was conducting a private flight with one pilot and one passenger on board.
Following a standard three-point landing on Runway 05, the pilot attempted to vacate the runway at an intersection where another aircraft was holding. During this maneuver, the pilot encountered a sudden brake 'snatch'. This mechanical action caused the tail of the aircraft to lift upward, resulting in the propeller making contact with the asphalt runway surface. The impact caused the wooden propeller to splinter, and the aircraft's nose pitched downward until the base of the engine cowling rested on the pavement.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. The crew, consisting of the pilot and one passenger, sustained no injuries. Following the impact, the pilot followed standard emergency procedures by turning off the fuel cock, magnetos, radio, and master switches. Emergency personnel from the airfield's fire and rescue service arrived to assist the occupants in exiting the aircraft. The aircraft was later repositioned to a three-point attitude and moved clear of the active runway.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was brake snatch occurring during the runway exit maneuver.
- The impact with the runway surface resulted in a broken propeller and abrasion damage to the engine cowling.