What happened
On 7 September 2004, a Grob G115E Tutor, registration G-BYVT, was engaged in a training flight at RAF Wyton, Cambridgeshire. The flight, involving a student and an instructor, consisted of various circuits, including normal and glide patterns. Following a previous go-around necessitated by traffic, the student pilot attempted a landing approach using take-off flaps.
As the aircraft descended to approximately 30 feet, the crew observed the airspeed falling to roughly 70 knots. In an effort to recover the required speed, the student pilot lowered the aircraft's nose. The instructor took control of the aircraft, applying full power to attempt a flare; however, the aircraft struck the runway with significant force on the nose landing gear. This was followed by the main landing gear and the tail skid making contact with the ground before the aircraft briefly became airborne again. The instructor subsequently completed a go-around and performed a successful landing.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. The crew involved were members of the Royal Air Force, and as such, the commander was performing duties under the provisions of the Air Navigation Order 2000. The investigation examined the sequence of the approach, the airspeed fluctuations, and the subsequent mechanical impact with the runway.
Findings
- The aircraft sustained damage to the nose wheel rim, a slight bend in the engine mounting frame, and a split in the tail skid structure.
- There were no injuries to the two crew members on board.
- The primary factor in the heavy touchdown was the sudden drop in airspeed just prior to the flare, which led to an inappropriate nose-down input by the student pilot.