What happened
On 18 July 1998, a Pitts S-1S, registration G-BRBN, was taxiing at Gloucestershire Airport following an immediate take-off clearance. The pilot was proceeding along an alternative taxiway toward Runway 27. During this maneuver, a light twin-engine aircraft was positioned on the upwind parallel taxiway performing power checks. While the pilot was scanning the area for another aircraft reported to be on final approach, they failed to observe the twin-engine aircraft's engine run-up.
At the time of the incident, the surface wind was recorded at 260°/10 kt, with gusts reaching 28 kt. The combination of these wind gusts and the aerodynamic disturbance caused by the slipstream from the twin-engine aircraft resulted in the sudden left turn and forward pitch of the aircraft. This caused the aircraft to strike the ground on its nose.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. The examination focused on the environmental conditions and the positioning of aircraft on the taxiways. The investigation established that the pilot's attention was diverted by searching for an aircraft on final approach, which led to a lack of situational awareness regarding the nearby twin-engine aircraft performing power checks.
Findings
- The aircraft sustained damage to the propeller and tailwheel, and the engine suffered a shock-load.
- There were no injuries to the pilot.
- The primary cause of the nose-over was the unforeseen aerodynamic forces created by a combination of high wind gusts and the slipstream from a nearby aircraft performing power checks.