What happened
On 21 April 2008, a private flight involving a Dyn'Aero MCR-01 ULC, registration G-CENA, was performing a landing at Caunton Airfield in Nottinghamshire. The pilot elected to use the north-north-easterly grass strip. At the time of the landing, the weather conditions featured a visibility of 7 km, a cloudbase of 2,100 ft, and temperatures of +6.5ºC, with winds originating from the northeast at approximately 18 mph.
As the aircraft reached the left edge of the landing strip, it experienced an uncommanded left turn. The pilot attempted to counteract this movement by applying the brakes and steering away from a nearby ditch; however, the pilot reported that the rudder pedals and independent braking systems failed to respond. The aircraft subsequently entered the ditch at an estimated speed of 15 mph. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the landing gear and both wing leading edges. There were no injuries to the pilot, who exited the aircraft safely after shutting down the fuel and electrical systems.
The investigation
The investigation examined the aircraft's mechanical state and the environmental conditions. The pilot initially suggested that a sudden gust of wind had lifted the right wing, causing the loss of control. Investigators noted that a northeast wind would typically create a tendency for the aircraft to turn into the wind (to the right). If the right wing had been lifted with enough force to cause a leftward swing, the left wingtip would likely have contacted the runway, but no such wingtip damage was observed.
Furthermore, the investigators looked into the effectiveness of the steering and braking systems. While the nosewheel steering is designed to self-centre when unloaded, the pilot's inability to use differential braking to correct the course was a key point of inquiry. The investigation could not find any mechanical defects or prior handling issues that would explain the sudden deviation.
Findings
- The aircraft experienced an uncommanded turn toward the left edge of the runway during the landing roll.
- The pilot was unable to use differential braking or steering to prevent the aircraft from entering a ditch.
- The investigation was unable to determine the specific cause of the leftward turn.