Incident at Barton today...

[EK4457]

Today (26th) at around 1600 (L) a Grob belonging to a resident Areo Club at Barton was involved in a 'bump' whilst landing.

I was about to start up my Tommohawk at the fuel pump when there was a large 'thump' behind us. Both me and my instructor turned to see that the Grob had ballooned up after initial contact with a dry and dusty 27L and was coming back down with an accute nose down attitude. The a/c then hit the grass to the left of the runway, nose first, and ballooned again. This happened another two or three times, each time getting closer to the tower and other parked aircraft to the left of the runway.

The a/c came to a stop about halfway down the runway and about 5 meters to the left of it, resting on its main gear and propeller with its tail in the air.

The Barton rescue vehiecle was there within seconds of the strange siren being activated by the tower. The fire brigade were there a few moments later and an ambulance and police after another ten.

The pilot, who I believe was a solo student, was visibly shaken but managed to walk away.

From what I could see, the nose wheel had snapped off, the prop was bent and the whole front fuselage was contorted and bent.

What was really strange about the incident was that the airfield was opened again within 15 minutes, using the same runway.

Accelerating down a runway and taking off with a crash scene and the associated emergency sevices a few meteres to the left is certainly quite sobering and, if any were needed, a dramatic reminder that aviation demands caution and respect.

I guess the reason I'm posting this is to get it off my chest and get the views of some fellow aviators. You guys are the first I've told as my girlfreind and family would never let my fly again if they knew that crashes really do happen!

Stay safe.

EK

[Newforest]

I was about to start up my Tommohawk at the fuel pump when there was a large 'thump' behind us. Both me and my instructor turned to see that the Grob had ballooned up after initial contact with a dry and dusty 27L and was coming back down with an accute nose down attitude. The a/c then hit the grass to the left of the runway, nose first, and ballooned again. This happened another two or three times, each time getting closer to the tower

EK

I believe the technical description is 'porpoising'.

[Chequeredflag]

I believe the technical description is 'porpoising'.
And I think the non technical term is crashing!! I feel sorry for the student, not a nice way to finish the day. Glad he was OK though.

[avidflyer]

The aircraft is parked outside maint looking a bit sad - nosewheel bent to one side, prop tips bent back. PT must be thinking people have something against it.
I felt like reassuring it that it wasn't personal!

[A2QFI]

"You guys are the first I've told as my girlfriend and family would never let me fly again if they knew that crashes really do happen!"
If you are over the age of consent your parents can't stop you and it would be easier to change your girlfriend and find one who shares your enthusiasm than stick with one who wants to stop you flying!

[AerBabe]

I guess the reason I'm posting this is to get it off my chest and get the views of some fellow aviators. You guys are the first I've told as my girlfreind and family would never let my fly again if they knew that crashes really do happen!

The first time you witness an incident is very odd. For me it happened on my first dual landaway. As we came down on final, the microlight departing in front had an engine failure and disappeared behind some trees. My instructor just said "carry on" and I did a beauty of a landing. He then made sure we found out that the pilot was okay, talked to me about what had happened, and insisted on a long break before we went home again.

Similarly, the first incident I witnessed working at North Weald really shook me. Aviation is a very small world and sooner or later you'll know someone that's involved in an incident. Yes, accidents happen. No, fatalities are not frequent. Go to a CAA safety meeting and see their statistics.

Just keep on flying and be as safe as you can. :ok:

[Mercenary Pilot]

EK4457

A healthy respect of what can go wrong is a good thing in a pilot, try discussing what you saw with your instructor. He will explain why this accident probably happened (its a common mistake with new pilots and one that can easily avoided with better decision making) Never feel pressured to land, if your not happy with the approach or landing, just Go-Around. What’s better from learning from your own mistakes is learning from someone elses:ok:

[avidflyer]

I should have added to my post above - you've had a rare experience as most pilots never see any kind of incident, let alone one where someone gets hurt. The Grob incident may have looked dramatic but the cockpit looked undistorted and in a similar scenario there is a very good chance that you'd walk away shaken but in one piece. When you get ready for solo circuits you'll have been very carefully trained by your instructor (it's his/her licence at risk!) and as long as you remember that every approach is an approach to a go-around and you may happen to land if everything is just right, you'll be fine! You'll never get to make all the possible mistakes as there isn't enough time in any one life so make sure you learn from those of other people and go on enjoying it.

[EK4457]

Thanks for all of your replies.

As it happens, both me and my instructor both decided that the most likely cause was a very late or lack of flair thus 'nose wheeling' it into the ground.

I am acually about to embark on my last solo XC before my QXC today and have a whopping 6 hours of solo under my belt already. The reason I was with instructor was I only had a single slot and I had just come back from 2 weeks holiday so I decided that some GH revision with instructor would be a good idea.

As it happens, whilst it bizzare to watch, this incident is far from the most shocking I've seen in my 27 years on this planet. I'v seen someone get shot and mudered in the US, I've been robbed at gunpoint in Mexico by a POLICEMAN and nearly drowned in the Indian Ocean during a SCUBA diving trip. Just to name a few.

I don't mean to sound like action man (I'm not), but my comment about the missus was totally tongue in cheek. I just didn't want to worry them. They think it's totally safe, and I'm happy with that.

Now, who knows the way to Fleetwood?....

Be safer

EK

[theresalwaysone]

As it happens, both me and my instructor both decided that the most likely cause was a very late or lack of flair thus 'nose wheeling' it into the ground.
EK

Thats not really correct, the cause was the student failing to initiate an immeadiate go around after a large bounce,even you heard the noise in another a/c.
99% of all noswheel removals are caused like this, very few pilots fly an aircraft straight into the ground--- you generally always get one chance to recover-- this misunderstanding is caused generally by instructors not concentrating and teaching go arounds from the runway. In 10,000 hours of instruction i have sent many first solos who made just passable landings but their go arounds had to be first class before i stepped out and my parting shot was always if theres any doubt theres no doubt--GO AROUND.

I taught go arounds from the runway by bouncing the aircraft off the runway upto about 10 feet and then saying, 'you have control-recover-' they soon got it right and it became instinctive and i never had one landing incident with a student in 13 flying schools.

Remeber almost all accidents are a result of poor instruction somewhere along the line--pick wives and instructors very carefully!

[Jinkster]

Which Grob? I did my FI rating in one of those Grobs over there!!!!

:{

[AuralFlightRules]

Which Grob? I... :{

It was probably Golf - Bravo Echo November Tango

[avidflyer]

Which Grob? I did my FI rating in one of those Grobs over there!!!!
:{ It was PT, I believe it's the same Grob that had the landing experience at Blackpool.

[Pilot RatBoy]

That incident sounds like my approaches used to be at Barton, my instructor had to make a few interventions to ensure a safe landing. I have been involved in two incidents at Barton in the Tomahawks though. I encountered an ASI failure and a bird strike (on seperate days). Both of which were in G-BOUD, on a wednesday afternoon with the same instructor. Needless to say, I haven't flown with that instructor or in that plane again!!

[EK4457]

Of course, G-BOUD has been re- christened G-RVRO. Looks like new - the flying turd is no more!

What is a bird strike like? I've been close but never actually hit one.

EK

[Viggen]

It smells! I went through a flock of pigeons in G-BOPT on very short final (the very Grob in question!). There were a couple of thuds as they went through the prop, then the smell of frying feathers. They were lodged in the cooling air intakes, and it was winter so we had the heaters on. My log book says pigeon bbq.

[Kolibear]

Does a lack of flare result from a lack of flair?

[Pilot RatBoy]

Of course, G-BOUD has been re- christened G-RVRO. Looks like new - the flying turd is no more!

What is a bird strike like? I've been close but never actually hit one.

EK

My strike was towards the tip of the starboard wing on the leading edge. I didn't hear anything, but saw a blackbird flash past. My instructor said that it made a loud thud, I guess I was to busy on the climb-out to hear it. Luckily, as the 3 inch dent was out on the tip, it didn't affect the handling very much but we conducted a flapless approach to be on the safe side. As the plane was needed for lessons, it was still flown for a week after with the dent until the school manager popped round for my checkride and realised how bad it was!