cjhants
there was a thread - not sure here or elsewhere- about 5 years ago on a fatal accident in the west country, cornwall i think.
http://www.pprune.org/rotorheads/199...ms-family.html
http://www.pprune.org/military-aircr...ly-update.html
http://www.pprune.org/rotorheads/212...ane-crash.html
Cessna 182S, G-WHDP
23 June 2001
RAF St Mawgan, Cornwall
AAIB Conclusion:
It was concluded that the Cessna crashed following a loss of control during an attempt to carry out a 'go-around'. The activity of the Sea King and the loss of control by the pilot of the Cessna were two distinct, and for the most part, unrelated events occurring at the same time. The plot constructed of the relative positions of each aircraft considered in conjunction with the rotor downwash trial established conclusively that the rotor downwash from the Sea King did not play any part in the Cessna leaving the side of the runway.
The possibility that the pilot of the Cessna was distracted by the actions of the Sea King could not be discounted. If that was the case, the option to stop on the runway by closing the throttle and applying the wheel brakes was available. The higher than normal speed maintained by the Cessna after landing was more likely an attempt to expedite clearing the runway than trying to take avoiding action. It is possible that expeditious runway clearance was either not to delay the departure of the Sea King or to reduce the time taken to travel to park at the Civil Air Terminal at the far end of the runway. The loss of directional control on the runway was attributed to the high ground speed and the attempt to carry out a 'go-around'. The go around was probably attempted to resolve the difficulties, experienced by the Cessna pilot, in maintaining directional control.
The outflow of air from the Sea King's downwash possibly affected the Cessna, when it became airborne and crossed vehicle access M. The turbulence created by the downwash could have added to the Cessna pilot's control difficulties. It is also possible that the low speed and increasing high angle of attack of the Cessna as it rotated into the air may have caused the aircraft to stall and descend quickly after becoming airborne.
"The outflow of air from the Sea King's downwash
possibly affected the Cessna,
when it became airborne and crossed vehicle access M"
ie After the pilot had lost control, veered off the runway (taking out a runway light in the process), was going across the grass heading towards a large hangar and briefly became airborne.
Why he didn't chop the throttle/use his brakes either while on the very long and very wide runway, or while travelling across the grass, are questions only the pilot would be able to answer. Sadly, he didn't recover from injuries sustained in the subsequent fire.
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