What happened
On 2 September 2005, a Pitts S-1C, registration G-BOZS, was performing a private flight in Northern Ireland. Following a local flight, the pilot attempted to land on the grass runway 31 at Bellarena Airfield. At the time of the landing, the wind was estimated to be approximately 5 to 6 knots from a 040º direction.
As the pilot initiated the flare, the aircraft ballooned before descending rapidly, leading to a heavy touchdown. This impact caused the suspension bungee attachment on the right main gear leg to fail, resulting in the collapse of the gear. Consequently, the propeller struck the ground. After the impact, the aircraft veered to the right and rolled for an additional 23 metres before coming to a stop. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, was able to exit the aircraft without assistance, and there were no injuries.
The investigation
The AAIB investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot and subsequent enquiries. The investigation focused on the sequence of the landing and the pilot's perception of the aircraft's height. The investigation noted that the aircraft's tailwheel configuration inherently provides limited over-the-nose visibility during the flare, often requiring pilots to monitor the side of the aircraft to judge altitude. The pilot noted that his height perception was based on a view of a fence located roughly 300 metres to his left.