What happened
On 10 May 2009, a Skyranger J2.2 (registration G-CCUD) was conducting a private flight in the vicinity of Newtownards Airfield, Northern Ireland. After approximately 90 minutes of local flight, the pilot returned to the airfield to land. Following a change in runway usage to Runway 04, the pilot commenced an approach.
During the initial landing attempt, the aircraft experienced a violent swing to the left just before touchdown. The pilot responded by applying power and attempting a go-around manoeuvre. On the second approach, a similar phenomenon occurred. As the aircraft was on the runway centreline and close to the ground, it suddenly swung sharply to the left. Despite the pilot applying full power and attempting to establish a climb, the aircraft continued to turn left. The nose dropped, causing the aircraft to strike the ground to the left of the runway. The impact caused the aircraft to flip, with the nose and right wing hitting the ground, resulting in severe damage to the aircraft. The pilot sustained minor injuries.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sudden, uncommanded left turn experienced during both the first and second landing attempts. The pilot noted that during recent stall practice, the left wing had a tendency to drop.
Technical examination of the G-CCUD revealed a mechanical failure: the aileron cable had broken at the point where it passed through the cockpit roof. While the pilot initially speculated that the cable might have snapped due to an overload during the impact, the physical evidence indicated the failure was present prior to the ground contact.