Introduction
On 21 July 2010, at 1745 UTC, a Jabiru UL-450, registration G-BZMC, experienced an accident during a training flight at Headon Farm Airstrip, near Gamston, Nottinghamshire. The aircraft was operated under a training flight with two crew on board and no passengers.
Aircraft and Flight Details
The aircraft was a Jabiru UL-450 equipped with one Jabiru Aircraft Pty 2200A piston engine, manufactured in 2001. The pilot in command held a National Private Pilot’s Licence and was 67 years old with 3,143 total flying hours, of which 2,214 were on the Jabiru type. The pilot under training held a National Private Pilot’s Licence as well, was 62 years old, and had 96 total flying hours, including 12 hours on type. The pilot was converting from a flex-wing aircraft to the Jabiru, a three-axis-control type aircraft. The flight involved circuits using grass Runway 32 at Headon Farm Airstrip, which is 545 m long and 20 to 30 m wide. Weather conditions were fine and dry with light winds from 010°.
Accident Sequence
The pilot reported that the approach was normal, but he flared too high and then bounced on landing. Following the bounce, he attempted to recover and land again, but the aircraft pitched nose-down, causing the nose landing gear to collapse and the propeller to strike the ground. The instructor, who was pilot in command, reported that he had tried to apply power in an attempt to prevent the aircraft from stalling during the flare but that he was unable to intervene quickly enough to avert the accident.
Damage and Aftermath
The nose landing gear, propeller, and underside of the nose cowling were damaged. After the nose gear collapsed, the aircraft slid along the ground for approximately 20 m before coming to a stop. Both crew members were uninjured. The information for this report was submitted by the pilot via an Aircraft Accident Report Form.