What happened
On 19 March 2003, a Scheibe SF25C Super Falke, registration G-FLKS, was conducting a private flight at Dunstable Airfield. The flight was intended as a training session to check a student pilot's proficiency before a solo navigation exercise. The weather conditions were favorable, characterized by clear skies, light winds, and a visibility of 5 km.
During the flight, the student pilot, occupying the left seat, performed a series of medium-level exercises before attempting a briefed touch-and-go landing on the dry grass runway. As the aircraft approached and landed in a south-westerly direction, the student initiated a go-around. This maneuver required the student to transition his left hand from the spoiler handle to the control column while simultaneously advancing the throttle with his right hand.
During these physical adjustments, the aircraft bounced. In the process, the student moved the control column forward. As the main wheels made contact with the ground, the propeller struck the surface. The impact caused the propeller to be destroyed and induced vibrations and engine roughness. The instructor, noticing the situation, took control of the aircraft with the intent to land in a nearby downslope field, but determined there was enough power to maintain altitude. The aircraft completed a 180-degree turn and landed safely back at the airfield in a north-easterly direction. There were no injuries to the two crew members.
The investigation
The investigation examined the sequence of hand movements required for the go-around and the physical inputs applied to the controls. The inquiry looked into the student's control of the column during the transition from spoiler manipulation to throttle advancement. The investigation also reviewed the instructor's role in monitoring the maneuver and the balance between student autonomy and instructor intervention.