What happened
On 24 April 2011, a Pietenpol Air Camper, registration G-RAGS, was conducting a private flight for dual instruction purposes. The flight involved a pilot and a flying instructor performing touch-and-go exercises at Shobdon Aerodrome in Herefordshire. The crew was utilizing the grass strip located adjacent to Runway 09 for these maneuvers.
During the second touch-and-go attempt, while the aircraft was at an altitude of approximately 20 feet, it began to veer toward the right. As the pilot attempted to correct the deviation, the instructor took control of the aircraft. The aircraft subsequently crossed the asphalt runway and landed on the grass strip. Upon landing, the landing gear collapsed, resulting in damage to the engine cowling and the front strut. There were no injuries to the occupants.
The investigation
The investigation examined the circumstances surrounding the loss of control and the subsequent structural failure of the undercarriage. It was noted that the weather conditions at the time were favorable, with winds reported between 5 and 7 knots from the north.
Investigators identified that a modification had been recently approved to rectify known issues regarding undercarriage collapse; however, this specific modification had not yet been implemented on G-RAGS.