What happened
On 9 August 2000, a Jabiru SK, registration G-BYBZ, was positioned at holding point 'J' at Coventry Airport for engine run-up procedures. Due to the narrow width of the taxiway, the pilot was unable to align the aircraft directly into the wind, resulting in the aircraft being positioned with the wind at approximately 45° to the right of the nose.
During the power application, as the engine RPM increased from 2,200 to 2,300, the right wing lifted significantly. This caused the left wing tip to make contact with the ground, subsequently tipping the aircraft forward and causing the propeller to strike the surface. The pilot immediately shut down the engine and exited the aircraft. There were no injuries to the pilot, though the aircraft sustained damage to the nose landing gear and the propeller.
The investigation
The investigation examined the environmental conditions and the aircraft's positioning during the incident. While the official ATIS reported a steady wind of 240°/12 kt without gusts, other pilots operating in the area reported gusty conditions. Furthermore, meteorological forecasts for the period suggested that gusts up to 22 kt were possible due to prevailing convective weather.
Findings
- The aircraft was not positioned directly into the wind because the taxiway width prevented a full turn.
- Increasing engine power caused an asymmetrical lift that led to the wing-tip strike.
- Potential wind gusts, despite not being officially recorded by ATIS, may have contributed to the instability.
- The manufacturer has previously noted a similar occurrence involving wind gusts from the right rear quarter during engine idling.