Independent report

AAIB Record-only investigations reviewed: March - April 2024

Published 13 June 2024

This section provides details of accidents and incidents which were not subject to a Field or full Correspondence Investigation. They are wholly, or largely, based on information provided by the aircraft commander at the time of reporting and in some cases additional information from other sources. The accuracy of the information provided cannot be assured.

Event date	Aircraft Type	Registration	Location Name	Record Only Occurrence Text
27 Jul 2023	Magni M24C	G-GTFB	Newborough Nature Reserve, Anglesey	The pilot reported that while flying near the coast the gyroplane became sheltered from the prevailing headwind behind some sand dunes and lost airspeed. The pilot applied full power and pitched nose down, but there was insufficient height to recover the flight path. He flared the gyroplane to reduce its rate of descent before it struck the ground, but it sustained substantial damage.
14 Oct 2023	CZAW SportCruiser	G-JAYZ	Ford Farm Airfield, Nottinghamshire	On returning to the airfield, after there had been a heavy rainfall, there was a lot of water on the grass surface. The pilot reported that he taxied too fast at the end of the runway after landing, and the wheels locked when he applied the brakes. The aircraft continued to move forward and slid down an embankment into a hedge where one of the composite propeller blades and the the left wing were badly damaged.
13 Jan 2024	X’Air Hawk	G-CGCV	Palmer Moor Airfield, Derbyshire	Following a brief reduction in engine performance, the pilot made a precautionary return to the airstrip. On short final, he heard a “bang” and felt the aircraft vibrating. Being high on the approach, the pilot aimed for a ploughed field beyond the runway on the other side of a road. Just before touchdown, the left wing dipped, and the aircraft landed heavily. The pilot considered that carburettor icing may have caused the earlier reduction in engine performance, but the cause of the bang was not determined at the time this report was published.
20 Jan 2024	Beech 35	G-NEWT	Field near Murcott, Oxfordshire	The aircraft was being flown home following its annual maintenance. On approach the engine failed to respond. Despite selecting the fuel tank which the pilot believed to be full, the engine did not respond so he executed a forced landing. Investigation by the maintenance organisation found that the old type fuel selector handle had been inadvertently re-fitted such that the fuel would have been selected from a tank that was close to being empty.
4 Mar 2024	Quik GT450	G-CFWN	Darley Moor Airfield, Derbyshire	The aircraft veered to the left during a crosswind touchdown. As the pilot tried to correct the heading, the aircraft flipped onto its side.
8 Mar 2024	Eurofox 3K	G-RONK	Private strip, near Ashford, Kent	The aircraft took off from a private grass strip. The aircraft’s nose rose unexpectedly, the right wing stalled at a height of about 20 ft and the aircraft struck the ground in a field near the runway; the pilot was uninjured.
17 Mar 2024	Piper PA-24-250	G-ARYV	Field near Leicester Airport	Shortly after departing from Runway 22 at Leicester, G-ARYV’s engine started to misfire and moments later it stopped. The pilot turned toward Runway 33 to attempt a forced landing but could not reach it. The aircraft landed short of the runway, striking some rubble and sustaining significant damaged in the process. Neither occupant was injured. The pilot considered that either carburettor icing or possible mismanagement of the fuel system caused the engine to stop.
29 Mar 2024	Cessna 152	G-TALA	Welshpool Aerodrome, Montgomeryshire	The aircraft bounced during landing and on the subsequent touchdown the nose landing gear broke off, the aircraft tipped forward and the propeller struck the runway.
14 Apr 2024	Zlin Z.526F	G-EHZT	Boston Aerodrome, Lincolnshire	The pilot intended to cycle and then lower the landing gear whilst downwind to land at Boston Aerodrome, but inadvertently left the gear up. The aircraft landed wheels up, damaging the propeller and shock loading the engine.
14 Apr 2024	Zenair CH 601HD	G-ZAIR	Priory Farm Airfield, Tibenham, Norfolk	Following a normal approach to land, the aircraft unexpectedly dropped from about 4 ft to the ground resulting in a heavy landing. The pilot considered that the accident was due to windshear.