What happened
On 15 September 2003, a Pietenpol Air Camper, registration G-ECVB, was completing a private flight from Compton Abbas to Lee-on-Solent Airfield. The weather conditions at the time of arrival featured visibility greater than 10 kilometres and a light crosswind from 145° at 5 to 10 knots.
As the aircraft approached Runway 23, it bounced several inches into the air and experienced a 5° leftward yaw. Upon the second touchdown, the aircraft continued to swing toward the left as the airspeed dropped. The pilot, positioned in the rear seat, attempted to use the right drum brake to correct the deviation, but the yaw could not be arrested. This resulted in the collapse of the right main landing gear. The aircraft eventually came to rest on its right wing tip, the left main gear, and the tail wheel. Both occupants, wearing appropriate safety harnesses and helmets, exited the aircraft with no injuries.
The investigation
The investigation examined the aircraft's handling characteristics and the pilot's positioning during the flight. It was noted that while the pilot had 72 total flying hours, only seven of those had been performed on this specific aircraft type. Furthermore, although the pilot had previously operated the aircraft from the front seat, this was his first time flying from the rear seat configuration.
Findings
- The primary cause of the loss of directional control was the pilot's delayed application of differential braking.
- The aircraft's yaw was influenced by a crosswind and a significant reduction in rudder effectiveness as the aircraft decelerated.
- The rearward center of gravity, caused by the presence of two occupants, contributed to the instability.
- The pilot's perspective from the rear cockpit prevented him from detecting the initial leftward yaw as quickly as he would have from the front seat.
- The pilot noted that the aircraft's tendency to yaw during landing, especially with a left-hand crosswind, might have been better managed by selecting Runway 05.