ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 220686
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| Date: | Saturday 4 August 2018 |
| Time: | 15:55 UTC |
| Type: |  Europa XS |
| Owner/operator: | Private |
| Registration: | G-IMAB |
| MSN: | PFA 247-13128 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | East Kirkby Airfield, Lincolnshire, England -
 United Kingdom
|
| Phase: | Take off |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | East Kirkby Airfield, Lincolnshire |
| Investigating agency: | AAIB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Information verified through data from accident investigation authorities |
AAIB investigation to Europa XS, G-IMAB: Landing gear retracted during takeoff roll, East Kirkby Airfield, Lincolnshire, 4 August 2018. The landing gear and flaps retracted without selection during the takeoff roll and the aircraft slid for approximately 50 metres before stopping. The pilot and his passenger were uninjured. According to the official AAIB report into the accident:
"The pilot flew from Rufforth to Breighton where he refuelled the aircraft, before flying to East Kirkby to visit the airshow. He described the takeoff roll from East Kirkby as bumpy and, just as he was about to rotate, the passenger saw “the gear lever shoot forward without any external input”. The main wheel, flaps and outriggers then retracted and the aircraft slid to a halt.
The pilot had acquired G-IMAB a few months prior to the accident and his operating experience of the Europa XS was limited to this airframe. The aircraft had been repaired after a previous landing gear collapse before he bought it and, when describing the gear lever operation, he noted that “there appeared to be an undue amount of pressure required to engage the down position”. Given his limited experience of the aircraft type, he considered this to be normal; a belief that was perhaps reinforced by flying the aircraft with another pilot who had previous experience of the type.
He also said that the gear lever on G-IMAB was not biased to the right. The pilot stated that he verified that the safety latch was in place during his pre-flight checks and he thought that the bumpy runway may have resulted in it jumping out of position. If the gear lever then moved sideways out of the gate, he considered the forces would have been sufficient for the landing gear to retract."
Damage sustained to airframe: Per the above AAIB report "Damaged fuselage, landing gear, engine and propeller"
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
1. AAIB report: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5c1115e640f0b60c70c4ba20/Europa_XS_G-IMAB_01-19.pdf
2. CAA: https://siteapps.caa.co.uk/g-info/
3. https://www.horncastlenews.co.uk/news/undercarriage-of-plane-collapsed-during-take-off-at-east-kirkby-air-show-1-8591893
4. Photo of accident: http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/photo/001423135.html
5. https://abpic.co.uk/pictures/registration/G-IMAB
6. https://www.jetphotos.com/photo/6781275
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 10-Jan-2019 21:33 | Dr. John Smith | Added |
| 11-Jan-2019 14:14 | harro | Updated [Source, Accident report, ] |
| 29-Jun-2020 16:28 | Anon. | Updated [Registration] |
| 19-Jul-2023 21:48 | Nepa | Updated [[Registration]] |
| 15-Mar-2024 20:37 | ASN | Updated [Accident report] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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