What happened
On 31 March 2006, a Robin HR200/120B, registration G-WAVA, was involved in an accident at Wellesbourne Mountford Airfield during a solo training flight. The student pilot, who was performing her third solo circuit, had previously completed a training session with an instructor. Following a takeoff from the airfield, the instructor monitored the aircraft's first approach to Runway 2ually 23. While the initial approach and airspeed appeared normal, the aircraft experienced a slight bounce upon touchdown. This was followed by a second bounce, reaching a height of approximately 10 feet, which resulted in a heavy impact on the nose landing gear.
Following the heavy landing, the pilot managed to stop the aircraft on the runway and shut down the engine. There were no injuries to the pilot.
The investigation
Investigators examined the flight sequence and local meteorological data. Wind records from the airfield weather station indicated that at the time of the accident, the wind was 230 degrees at 20 knots, with gusts reaching 22 knots. The instructor noted that the pilot's control inputs during the second bounce were difficult to recall, but believed the pilot had over-controlled the aircraft in pitch by pushing the control column forward and then pulling back.
An inspection of the aircraft revealed that the nose landing gear leg and the propeller were both bent. Additionally, the engine firewall and the underside of the left wing sustained creasing, and the engine suffered a shock load caused by the propeller striking the runway.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the over-control of the aircraft in pitch following an initial bounce.
- A gust of wind likely contributed to the height of the second bounce.
- The student pilot was inexperienced, having completed only 32 hours of total flight time and only three solo flights.