What happened
On 22 July 2008, a Robin DR400/160 Chevalier, registration G-BKVL, was being taxied toward the departure end of Runway 07 at Ledbury Airfield, Gloucestershire. The pilot was maneuvering the aircraft to the right of the runway centerline to ensure enough space for a left-hand turn at the end of the runway. During this taxiing phase on the grass surface, a sudden wind gust or a bump in the runway caused the aircraft to veer toward the left.
In response to this deviation, the pilot applied right rudder and attempted to use the toe brakes to stabilize the aircraft. However, the aircraft was not equipped with toe brakes, but rather a hand brake. The application of excessive right rudder caused the aircraft to swing 30° to the right. Before the pilot could implement a corrective maneuver using the hand brake, the right wing leading edge struck a barbed wire fence located at the edge of the runway. The impact of the wire prevented the aircraft from turning left and subsequently caused the propeller to strike the wire, resulting in the engine stopping. There were no injuries to the pilot, and the aircraft sustained damage to the engine cowling, propeller, and the leading edge of the right wing.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. Investigators examined the aircraft's braking configuration and the pilot's maneuvers. It was established that the pilot had significant flying experience, though only 16 hours of that time had been completed on this specific aircraft type. The investigation focused on the pilot's reaction to the initial veer and the specific braking mechanics of the Robin DR400/160 Chevalier.