AAIB investigation to Aeroprakt A32 Vixxen, G-RASP
Aircraft inverted after forced landing, near Northrepps (Cromer) Airfield, Norfolk, 20 June 2024
During a second approach to land at Northrepps (Cromer) Airfield, G-RASP encountered turbulence, which resulted in unexpected sink on short finals and caused the aircraft to land heavily on its nosewheel. Following the subsequent baulked landing go-around the pilot realised the rudder pedals were jammed and ascribed it to damage sustained at touchdown. Unsure of the consequences of trying to land on a hard runway with a compromised nose landing gear, and unwilling to use the aircraft’s ballistic parachute in a pre-meditated way, the pilot elected to carry out a precautionary landing in a field of corn. After touchdown, however, the landing gear caught in the corn and the aircraft came to rest inverted. Both occupants were able to self-evacuate from the aircraft.
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