Aircraft and Flight Details
The accident involved a Vans RV-9A, registration G-HUMH, powered by a single Lycoming O-320-D3G piston engine. The aircraft was manufactured in 2006. The flight was private, with one pilot and one passenger on board. The pilot, aged 68, held a Private Pilot's Licence and had a total flying experience of 239 hours, of which 73 hours were on type. In the last 90 days, he had flown 2 hours, and in the last 28 days, also 2 hours.
Events
On 22 May 2009 at 0814 UTC, the aircraft was conducting a normal approach to Runway 25 at Shoreham Airport, Sussex. During the flare, the aircraft contacted the ground before the pilot had anticipated. It then bounced several times before tipping onto its nose. After tipping, the aircraft righted itself. Both occupants were uninjured.
Damage
The nose landing gear collapsed, the propeller struck the ground, and the engine was shock-loaded.
Cause
The pilot commented that the inadvertent ground contact was due to an unseen undulation in the grass runway surface.