What happened
During a flight following an initial takeoff, the pilot encountered difficulties retracting the landing gear. This mechanical issue was accompanied by erroneous system indications, specifically affecting the anti-skid and lift dump functions. After the aircraft completed a landing at Farnborough, the crew consulted with maintenance specialists and subsequently relocated the aircraft to Blackbushe for a more detailed technical inspection.
Upon landing on Runway 26 at Blackbushe, the aircraft veered off the paved surface. During the excursion, the aircraft collided with several obstructions, resulting in the total destruction of the aircraft type. There was no fire reported during the incident, and the pilot escaped without 0 injuries.
Findings
Investigators determined that the primary cause of the cockpit warnings was a pre-impact failure of the support bracket for the right main landing gear weight-on-wheels switch. This structural failure was responsible for the erroneous system indications experienced by the crew during the preceding flight. The investigation concluded with five specific safety recommendations.