March 11, 2022
England

Yorkshire pilot blames windfarm for crash which left him injured

Turbulence from windfarm 'may have contributed to loss of control at Yorkshire airfield' | ByAndrew Robinson | 11 MAR 2022 | www.examinerlive.co.uk

A Yorkshire pilot who was injured when his plane crashed said he believed violent turbulence from a nearby windfarm may have contributed to him losing control.

The 66-year-old pilot suffered minor injuries when he lost control of the Piper aircraft as it came into land at Beverley Airfield, Yorkshire.

The aircraft, which had taken off from Sherburn in Elmet, North Yorkshire, was damaged beyond repair in the crash on August 11, 2021, at 10.12am.

A report by the Air Accident Investigation Board said the aircraft’s right wing lifted just as the pilot was about to land.

The pilot said he felt strong turbulence at 150ft and then a sudden ‘violent’ gust as he prepared the plane for touchdown.

The plane slewed off the runway and came to rest in a field. It missed a ditch to the north of the runway but struck the ground in a field, causing substantial damage.

The AAIB said: “The pilot suggested that the turbulence effects from a windfarm to the south of the airfield may have been a contributory factor in the loss of control,” the report said.

The pilot reported that he believed that both the turbulence during final approach and the loss of control during the ‘flare’ (when landing) may have been associated with wake turbulence downstream or a wind turbine installation to the south of the airfield.

The AAIB contacted the airfield management enquiring whether there had been any reports of aircraft experiencing turbulence on approach and landing when with a southerly wind direction.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2022/03/11/yorkshire-pilot-blames-windfarm-for-crash-which-left-him-injured/