What happened
On August 17, 2014, at approximately 16:16 local time, a private VFR flight was conducting a landing at the Speck-Fehraltorf airfield (LSZK). The aircraft, a Bü 131 APM with registration HB-UUM, had previously completed a passenger flight from Locarno.
As the pilot prepared for the approach to runway 30, they observed the windsock, which indicated a light wind of approximately 4 knots from the west. During the landing sequence, the pilot initiated the flare at a relatively low approach speed. This maneuver caused the aircraft to lose control, resulting in the right wing dropping at an altitude of about one meter above the ground. The aircraft subsequently struck the runway on its right wheel, causing structural damage to the forward fuselage landing gear.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of events during the final approach and the execution of the landing maneuver. Investigators examined the environmental conditions, noting the light westerly wind reported by the pilot. The assessment centered on the aircraft's flight path during the flare and the impact of the approach speed on the stability of the aircraft during the touchdown phase.
Findings
- The pilot initiated the flare maneuver while maintaining an insufficiently low approach speed for the prevailing conditions.
- The aircraft experienced a wing drop during the first third of the runway.
- The impact resulted in one person being seriously injured (the passenger), while the pilot sustained minor or no injuries.
- The landing caused significant damage to the aircraft's forward fuselage gear structure.