What happened
On 10 July 2011, a Rebel, registration G-BWFZ, was conducting a training flight at Old Sarum Airfield in Wiltshire. During the flight, the instructor transferred control of the aircraft to the pilot to perform a series of demonstration circuits.
While performing low passes along the runway to assist the pilot in practicing the correct landing attitude, the aircraft experienced a bounce. Although the pilot attempted to apply power to manage the bounce, the aircraft subsequently made heavy contact with the runway. During a third pass, which was intended to allow the aircraft to settle onto the grass runway, the right main landing gear collapsed. This caused the aircraft to dig into the ground and undergo a right-hand turn of approximately 150 degrees.
Both occupants of the aircraft were uninjured during the incident.
The investigation
The investigation examined the sequence of events leading to the gear collapse and the impact on the aircraft's structure. The aircraft, a 1999 model powered by a single Lycam O-320-D3G piston engine, sustained damage to the cockpit, fuselage, and landing gear. The investigation reviewed the pilot's actions regarding power application during the initial bounce and the subsequent attempt to land on the grass strip.