What happened
On 9 May 2006, a P & M Aviation Quik GT450 microlight, registration G-GTSO, was conducting a training flight near Halsall, Lancashire. The flight was intended to provide instruction for a pilot who had not flown for approximately two years. Following general handling maneuvers over the coast in favorable weather conditions, the crew moved inland to perform practice forced landings.
During the first attempt at a forced landing, the student pilot was unable to land successfully and performed a go-around at approximately 100 feet above ground level. The instructor directed the student to apply power once the aircraft reached a height of about 40 feet. During this second attempt, the aircraft struck the ground in a nose-down attitude at speeds between 55 and 70 mph. The impact caused the airframe and propeller to be destroyed and damaged the engine. The instructor sustained one serious injury to his back, while the student pilot suffered one minor injury to an ankle and back.
The investigation
The investigation examined the flight maneuvers and the mechanical state of the aircraft. The instructor noted that power was applied gradually during the go-around. Crucially, the instructor observed that the control bar was pulled back rather than pushed, an input he was unable to counteract. The student pilot also recalled pushing the control bar forward during the initial phase of the go-around, but noted the nosewheel appeared to strike the ground first.
Investigators also looked at the environmental factors. The field used for the landing had been left fallow for two years and possessed a soft surface. The instructor noted that the structural rigidity of the trike's keel and monopole prevented the aircraft from inverting upon impact, and the soft ground likely mitigated the severity of the injuries.
Findings
- The accident was primarily caused by the late application of power and the incorrect movement of the control bar, which was pulled back instead of pushed.
- The decision to allow the aircraft to descend to a height of only 40 feet before applying power contributed to the impact.
- The structural integrity of the aircraft's keel and monopole prevented the aircraft from flipping over during the crash.