What happened
On 17 April 2010, a Jabiru SK, registration G-BYIA, was conducting a private flight at Fishburn Airfield in County Durham. The pilot had successfully completed one circuit of the airfield following standard pre-flight and pre-departure procedures. While performing a second circuit, the aircraft was on the downwind leg when the pilot decided to initiate a go-around.
During the maneuver, the pilot applied full power and selected the first stage of flap. The aircraft touched down on an undulating and bumpy runway. Following the initial touchdown, the pilot attempted to flare the aircraft; however, the aircraft became airborne again. Shortly after this, the pilot selected full flap. During this process, the aircraft entered a stall, causing the right wing to drop. The aircraft subsequently struck the ground, impacting first with the right main landing gear and then the nosewheel.
The investigation
The investigation examined the sequence of events following the touchdown on the uneven runway. It was established that while the initial approach, flare, and touchdown appeared normal, the aircraft'-s subsequent behavior was influenced by the pilot's flap settings. The investigation also noted the physical condition of the aircraft following the impact, which included damage to the windscreen, propeller, engine mountings, nosewheel, right main landing gear, and both wings. No injuries were reported following the incident.
Findings
- The pilot inadvertently retracted all of the flap instead of retracting it to the first stage.
- This error in flap configuration allowed the aircraft to enter a stall during the go-around attempt.
- The runway surface at Fishburn Airfield was noted to be undulating and bumpy.