What happened
On 28 July 2002, a Sportavia SFS 31, registration D-KIFF, was completing a private flight back to Boscombe Down after a journey from Germany lasting more than four hours. The aircraft's landing gear configuration consists of a single retractable main wheel, outrigger wheels, and a steerable tailwheel. The mechanism is operated via a lever on the right side of the cockpit, with a separate downlock lever located to the right of the control column to secure the gear in position.
Upon performing a gentle tail-down landing, the pilot attempted to deploy the airbrake. At this moment, the main wheel retracted, causing the aircraft to collapse onto the runway surface. The aircraft slid along the runway for roughly 25 metres, resulting in damage to the underside of the fuselage and the tips of the propeller blades. The pilot was the sole occupant of the aircraft and sustained no injuries.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the accident report submitted by the pilot and subsequent enquiries. The examination focused on the landing gear deployment sequence and the pilot's actions during the landing phase. The investigation established that the main gear was not properly secured in the down position.
Findings
- The pilot failed to perform a sufficient tactile check to confirm that the downlock lever had been moved into the fully locked position.
- The landing gear was not locked down, leading to its retraction during the landing roll.
- The pilot's fatigue following the long-duration flight was identified as a contributing factor to the oversight.