What happened
On 21 June 2009, a Rans S6-ES Coyote II, registration G-CCLH, was engaged in a private flight near Cape Wrath, Sutherland, Scotland. The pilot intended to perform a landing on Sandwood Beach. To assess the surface conditions, the pilot conducted a low-level pass to test the stability of the terrain. During this maneuver, the aircraft's wheels made contact with a drift of sand. This impact caused the nosewheel to collapse, resulting in the nose of the aircraft becoming buried in the sand and bringing the flight to an immediate and abrupt stop.
As a result of the impact, the aircraft sustained a broken propeller and damage to the noseleg. Additionally, the engine and the forward section of the fuselage suffered damage from saltwater exposure.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report form provided by the pilot. The inquiry focused on the sequence of the landing attempt and the interaction between the aircraft's landing gear and the beach surface. The pilot, who held a Private Pilot’s Licence and had significant experience on this specific aircraft type, had completed 33 hours of flight time in the preceding 90 days.