What happened
On 15 September 2009, an Ikarus C42 FB100, registration G-HIJN, was engaged in a solo navigation exercise. The student pilot had previously completed dual circuits at Ince Airfield and was instructed to fly a route to Llandudno and back. Following a suggestion from an instructor, the pilot planned to land on the intertidal zone of Hoylake Beach during the return leg, a location the crew had previously used during a dual flight.
During the approach, the pilot flew over the beach to ensure the area was clear before performing a standard approach into the wind. Upon touchdown, the aircraft bounced. The pilot attempted to pitch the nose down and flare a second time, but a subsequent bounce occurred. Following this second bounce, the nose was lowered, resulting in the collapse of the nose landing gear. There were no injuries to the pilot, and the aircraft sustained damage to the noseleg, front forks, engine mount, and front spat. The pilot was able to evacuate the aircraft without difficulty, and no fire occurred.
The investigation
The AAIB examined the circumstances of the landing and the pilot's experience. At the time of the accident, the student pilot had accumulated only five hours of solo flight experience. The investigation looked into the environmental conditions of the landing site, specifically the nature of the beach surface, and the pilot's handling of the aircraft during the bounced landing sequence.