What happened
On 2 November 2002, a Grob G115, registration G-BOPU, was performing a private flight at Manchester Barton Aerodrome. Following a local flight, the pilot approached Runway 09 Main to land on the wet grass surface. The aircraft touched down at a speed slightly exceeding the normal parameters for the type.
Upon touchdown, the pilot initially intended to perform a touch-and-go maneuver to continue further circuits. To facilitate this, full power was applied for roughly five seconds. However, due to concerns regarding the proximity of nearby residential flats located within the climb-out area, the pilot decided to abort the maneuver and attempt a full stop. To execute this, the throttle was closed and the brakes were applied firmly. Because of the wet conditions of the grass runway, the brakes locked up, causing the aircraft to slide. The aircraft subsequently overran the available landing distance and came to a halt after striking a low hedge at approximately 15 kt. There were no injuries to the two occupants.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report form submitted by the pilot. Investigators examined the sequence of engine power applications and the braking performance on the grass surface. The examination established that the aircraft sustained punctures to the wing and a bent propeller as a result of the collision with the hedge.