ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 190008
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| Date: | Saturday 1 September 2007 |
| Time: | 09:24 |
| Type: |  Rutan Long-EZ Vareze |
| Owner/operator: | Private |
| Registration: | G-BNCZ |
| MSN: | PFA 074A-10723 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1988 |
| Engine model: | Lycoming O-235-C2C |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Turweston Aerodrome, Biddlesden Road, Brackley, Northamptonshire -
 United Kingdom
|
| Phase: | Take off |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Turweston, Brackley, Northamptonshire (EGBT) |
| Investigating agency: | AAIB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
Written off (damaged beyond repair) 01-09-2007 when crashed at Turweston Aerodrome, Biddlesden Road, Brackley, Northamptonshire: The canopy opened when the aircraft lifted off, the pilot landed ahead firmly and the main landing gear detached as a result. No injuries sustained by the pilot - the sole person on board. According to the following excerpt from the official AAIB report into the accident:
"The pilot reported that, on rotating the aircraft during the takeoff run, the side-hinged canopy became unlatched, and that once the aircraft became airborne, the canopy opened fully. The pilot was concerned that it might then detach and strike the rear mounted pusher propeller, so he therefore decided to land ahead on the remaining runway length.
A firm landing took place, resulting in detachment of the main landing gear. The aircraft veered to the right, stopping after running on to the grass. The pilot stated that the cockpit can become very hot in summer if the aircraft is taxyed with the canopy shut. It is thus sometimes necessary to delay closing it until very shortly before takeoff.
He considered that this contributed to his failure to ensure the canopy was fully latched before he began the takeoff roll. Once airspeed was gained, the canopy profile caused lift to be generated, allowing the insecure canopy to open"
Nature of Damage sustained to airframe: Per the AAIB report "Main landing gear detached and propeller damaged, lower fuselage, engine cowling and right wing tip scraped". The damage sustained was presumably enough to render the airframe as "beyond economic repair", as the registration G-BNCZ was cancelled by the CAA on 11-02-2008 as "Destroyed".
However, despite the CAA's summary that the G-BNCZ was "destroyed", the aircraft was repaired, and returned to service, with the registration being restored to a new owner in Swanley, Kent, some fifteen months later, on 26-05-2009.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
1. AAIB: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5422ebca40f0b613420000a7/Rutan_Long-Ez__G-BNCZ_02-08.pdf
2. CAA: https://siteapps.caa.co.uk/g-info/
3. G-BNCZ at Turweston 11-05-2006: http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/photo/000020303.html
4. G-BNCZ at Cranfield: https://www.flickr.com/photos/paulkelseyphotography/15765665711
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 13-Sep-2016 11:36 | Dr.John Smith | Added |
| 12-Oct-2016 14:19 | Dr.John Smith | Updated [Operator, Narrative] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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