What happened
On 16 August 2002, a Taylor Monoplane, registration G-BDKU, was conducting a private flight at Bodmin Airfield in Cornwall. The pilot, who had recently begun operating this specific aircraft type, had completed several fast taxi runs on the grass runway prior to takeoff. The flight was intended to be a standard right-hand circuit with a full-stop landing on Runway 14.
Weather conditions at the time were favorable, characterized by clear skies, excellent visibility of 30 km, and light, variable winds. The pilot maintained an altitude of approximately 800 feet during the circuit. As the aircraft transitioned to final approach, it maintained a speed of 60 kt. The touchdown was performed at the intended point with the correct aircraft attitude. Following the landing, the pilot applied light braking to decelerate on the remaining runway surface.
Approximately 50 to 75 metres after the aircraft had touched down, the plane suddenly nosed over, coming to rest in an inverted position. During the inversion, the pilot was able to partially release a four-point harness, allowing his head and shoulders to exit the cockpit area. However, a shoulder harness failed to release, trapping him. The pilot observed fuel leaking from the filler cap near the cockpit gauge. The airfield Rescue and Fire Fighting Service arrived at the scene and lifted the tail of the aircraft to allow the crew to cut the remaining harness and extract the pilot.
The investigation
Investigators examined the circumstances surrounding the sudden inversion of the aircraft. The pilot, who possessed experience in tail-wheel aircraft, could not definitively identify the precise cause of the nose-over. However, the investigation considered the topography of the airfield, noting that the runway featured a down-slope. The pilot suggested that the inadvertent application of the heel brakes during the landing roll might have contributed to the loss of control.
Findings
- The aircraft sustained minor damage to the cockpit, wing tip, and fin.
- The pilot sustained minor injuries.
- The aircraft's nose-over occurred on a down-slope runway section.
- The pilot's use of the heel brakes during the landing run was a potential contributing factor to the accident.