An amateur stunt pilot is suing aviation overseers for £2 million, alleging a mechanical failure caused by a loose or missing nut led to his biplane crashing shortly after takeoff. Trevor Davis, 64, suffered serious injuries, including brain damage and a fractured skull, when his Pitts Special biplane nose-dived into a runway at Popham Airfield in Hampshire in March 2022.
Davis claims that a critical nut connected to the aircraft's tail elevator was inadequately secured or absent following a comprehensive rebuild of the plane he commissioned in 2018. He asserts that this mechanical defect prevented him from properly controlling the plane's pitch, despite the aircraft having been inspected and certified as airworthy by an inspector from the Light Aircraft Association (LAA) prior to the flight.
The LAA, which oversees the airworthiness of thousands of aircraft, denies that the nut could have been missing or loose during their inspection. Lawyers for the LAA contend that the project engineer who rebuilt the plane would have detected such an issue, and that the nut and split pin were in place at the time of inspection. The organization further suggests that Davis's piloting skills contributed to the crash, stating he could have prevented the nose-dive by increasing throttle or landing at a less challenging airfield.
Davis's legal team argues that expert evidence indicates the failure of the connection between the tail elevator and the pilot's joystick was due to the faulty nut. They contend the LAA failed to identify the plane's unfitness for flight.
As a result of the crash, Davis sustained brain damage, a fractured skull, smashed teeth, and injuries to his neck, arm, and shoulder. His legal counsel states he continues to experience headaches, cognitive and behavioral problems, and nerve damage requiring surgery. The accident has also rendered him unable to continue his work as a self-employed builder.
The case has reached London's High Court for preliminary hearings to address issues concerning evidence and costs. The Pitts Special, a bi-wing stunt plane known for its maneuverability and its reputation for being challenging to land, was first designed in the 1940s. Davis acquired the 1966 model in 2011.