What happened
On 11 August 2000, a Jodel D112, registration G-AZFF, was conducting a private flight from Newtownards to Mullaghmore, Northern Ireland. During the departure from Newtownards, the aircraft encountered turbulence due to surface winds of 170°/20 kt.
As the pilot descended into the circuit at Mullaghmore, the flight continued to experience moderate turbulence. While the aircraft was on the final approach for Runway 18, the air became relatively smooth. However, just prior to touchdown, a sudden gust of wind caused the aircraft to drift toward the left side of the runway. During this drift, the underside of the left wing struck the top of a nearby fence post. The pilot applied a small amount of power to correct the drift and successfully returned the aircraft to the runway centerline, completing the landing without further issues.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. The examination focused on the flight conditions and the sequence of events leading to the contact with the fence post. The aircraft sustained damage to the left wing and the spar box.