Independent report

AAIB Record-only investigations reviewed: January - February 2024

Published 11 April 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
21 Sept 2023	Piper PA-28-161	G-BLVL	Netherthorpe Airfield, South Yorkshire	After setting takeoff power the airspeed indicator did not ‘come alive’ as the aircraft accelerated. The pilot aborted the takeoff with insufficient runway to stop the aircraft, which hit a hedge. The aircraft sustained some damage to the cabin.
6 Nov 2023	Piper PA-28-161	G-BODB	Sherburn In Elmet Airfield, North Yorkshire	On return from circuit flying the pilot intended to refuel his aircraft. Heavy rain precluded access to the refuelling station on the grass from the west and there were two aircraft parked on the east side of the pumps. Electing to taxi rather than to shut down and call for assistance from the ground handling team, the pilot misjudged the space available to taxi between the two aircraft and inadvertently struck one of them. He then attempted to pass between another parked aircraft and the pumps and inadvertently struck this other aircraft.
9 Jan 2024	Reims Cessna F152	G-PPLS	Dunkeswell Airfield, Devon	This was the first solo for a student pilot. The aircraft bounced on touchdown after which it stalled and dropped onto the runway. It ran onto the grass, then back onto the hard surface before coming to a halt. The propeller and nose gear were damaged. The pilot considered that a misjudged flare with the throttle at idle led to a reduction in airspeed and the stall.
9 Jan 2024	SD-1 Minisport	G-SJMW	Near RAF Lossiemouth, Moray	During cruise the engine lost power and started to run rough. The subsequent forced landing on a frozen field was slightly downwind and the pilot needed to avoid some power cables. With insufficient distance to stop the pilot attempted a ground loop, but this was ineffective due to the ground conditions. The aircraft collided with the boundary hedge, and the pilot escaped uninjured despite damage to his helmet.
16 Jan 2024	Cessna 152	G-TALC	Leicester Airport	A solo student was carrying out night circuits. On the third landing the aircraft encountered a crosswind which resulted in a bounce on landing leading to a propeller strike and collapse of the nose landing gear.
17 Jan 2024	Piper PA-28-161	G-LFSW	Perranporth Airfield, Cornwall	The student pilot flew the aircraft on a practice glide approach but touched down in the grass undershoot of Runway 04. When the aircraft then travelled onto the paved runway surface, the left main landing gear collapsed causing a slew to the left before coming to rest.
18 Jan 2024	Jabiru J430	G-ROOO	Near Earls Colne Airfield, Essex	The aircraft suffered a rough running engine in flight which, despite the use of carburettor heat, continued to run roughly. The pilot carried out a forced landing in a field and during the landing run the aircraft hit a rut which caused the nose gear to collapse.
27 Jan 2024	Titan T-51 Mustang	G-FION	Netherthorpe Airfield, South Yorkshire	After takeoff, the aircraft made a climbing turn on to crosswind when the engine failed at approximately 450 ft agl. Its airspeed decayed, and it entered an incipient spin. The pilot was able to recover the aircraft to a normal attitude and make a forced landing in an uncropped field. The two occupants were not injured, but the aircraft was substantially damaged. The pilot later examined the automotive derived engine and found that a connecting rod had failed. He stated that aerobatic training, which included spin recognition and recovery, helped ensure a safe outcome.
28 Jan 2024	Pegasus Quik	G-TBJP	Sywell Aerodrome, Northampton	Just before rotation on the takeoff roll the aircraft slewed to the left then started to roll right. The instructor needed both hands to try and correct the roll and was unable to close the throttle and abort the takeoff. It is likely the student made inputs on the controls which increased the difficulty for the instructor to recover the attitude, and the aircraft toppled onto its side. Although the student did not recall touching the brakes, marks on the runway indicated they may have been inadvertently applied during the takeoff roll.
1 Feb 2024	Ikarus C42 FB80	G-SHCK	Bicester Aerodrome , Oxfordshire	The approach to Runway 34 at Bicester was stable, but the aircraft touched down heavily on the grass runway. It bounced then stopped quickly after the subsequent touchdown. The nose gear was damaged.
1 Feb 2024	Reims Cessna F172P	G-BIOB	Near Cobham, Surrey	During flight, the front left window was opened to take a photograph. However, the window hinge failed, and the window was then torn off by the airflow. The fully controllable aircraft was recovered safely to a nearby airfield and the window assembly, minus the hinge pin, was later recovered from a field.
12 Feb 2024	Cessna 150D	G-ASMW	Fife Airport, Glenrothes	Following an uneventful landing during circuit practice with an instructor, the student pilot turned the aircraft to taxi back to the threshold to take off again, when a strong gust of wind dragged the tail, resulting in the aircraft tilting onto its nose and causing damage to the fuselage.
16 Feb 2024	Jodel D150	G-BHVF	Henstridge Airfield, Somerset	The pilot reported that the weather was calm, and the approach was uneventful. The tailwheel aircraft developed a “wobble” during the landing run. The left wheel contacted the soft, wet, grass at the side of the runway causing the aircraft to slew to the left and ground loop, during which the right gear leg collapsed.