What happened
On August 7, 2005, a Maule MX7-235, registration I-GIUN, was conducting an aerial advertising mission involving banner towing near Ravenna, Italy. The flight originated from Forlì, and the pilot was in the process of landing at Ravenna Airport (LIDR) after completing the scheduled mission.
During the landing roll, the aircraft experienced a sudden and unexpected leftward yaw, likely triggered by a strong wind gust. This resulted in the pilot losing directional control, causing the aircraft to veer off the runway and capsize. The pilot sustained minor injuries and was able to exit the cockpit independently. The aircraft suffered significant structural damage, including severe impact to the fuselage and tail surfaces, and the landing gear was partially torn from the airframe.
The investigation
The ANSV investigation examined the meteorological conditions, the aircraft's mechanical state, and the pilot's experience. At the time of the incident, local weather reports indicated wind speeds of approximately 21 knots with gusts reaching 34 knots.
The investigation focused on the inherent handling characteristics of tailwheel (bicycle) landing gear configurations. Unlike tricycle gear aircraft, tailwheel aircraft have a center of gravity located behind the main gear, making them naturally less directionally stable on the ground. The investigators analyzed how braking forces and wind gusts can create a pitching moment that, in tailwheel aircraft, tends to lift the tail and lead to a nose-over (capsize) event.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the loss of control during the landing deceleration phase, resulting from the pilot's insufficient response to the aircraft's natural tendency to capsize.
- A significant contributing factor was the presence of gusty wind conditions at the time of the landing.
- The pilot's limited experience operating tailwheel-configuration aircraft was identified as a contributing human factor.
- There were no technical or mechanical failures identified; the aircraft was in an airworthy condition.