Fournier RF5B, G-SSWV, 6 June 2008

Fournier RF5B, G-SSWV

Summary:

The surface wind was from the west at 10 to 15 kt and the aircraft was landing on a heading which was about 30° to the left of that. During the latter stages of the flare, with the pilot holding the control column almost fully aft, the aircraft dropped from a height of between 4 and 5 feet onto the runway. G-SSWV bounced once before touching down again and stopping. The hard landing damaged the tail wheel assembly, which prevented the aircraft from being taxied. The pilot considered it possible that the wind had varied during the flare, when the aircraft was over the landing area, and may have become a tailwind. He also concluded that insufficient monitoring of the decaying airspeed and lack of currency in the prevailing conditions contributed to the accident.

Download report:

Fournier RF5B, G-SSWV 03-09.pdf (215.47 kb)

Published 10 December 2014