What happened
On 30 May 2009, a Jodel D117A, registration G-AYHX, was performing a private flight at Henstridge Airfield in Somerset. During the landing phase on Runway 07, the pilot executed a normal touchdown and reduced the throttle. While the aircraft initially rolled straight along the runway, it subsequently began to weathercock into the wind.
As the aircraft turned, the pilot attempted to use left rudder to counteract the movement. However, due to the high ambient temperature and minimal airflow over the rudder, there was insufficient control authority to stop the rotation. This resulted in a ground loop where the left landing gear collapsed. The aircraft continued to slide, scraping the left wing against the ground and exiting the runway before finally coming to a rest on the grass. There were no injuries to the pilot, who was able to exit the aircraft without difficulty.
The investigation
The investigation examined the aircraft's behavior during the landing roll and the environmental conditions present at the time. The AAIB established that the wind at the airfield was reported at 5 to 10 knots from a direction of 110°. The investigation also noted the pilot's experience level, noting that while the commander held a Private Pilot’s Licence, they had only 14 hours of experience on this specific type of aircraft and had flown only one hour in the preceding 28 days.