What happened
On 23 August 2002, a Piper PA 22-135, registration N2652P, was attempting a solo take-off from Runway 34 at Hacket/town Airstrip, Co. Carlow. Shortly after lifting off, approximately 130 meters from the runway threshold, a sudden gust of wind pushed the aircraft to the right of the centerline. In an attempt to correct the deviation, the pilot overcompensated, causing the aircraft to yaw sharply to the left.
Deciding to abort the take-off, the pilot brought the aircraft back down to the runway. During the landing roll, the application of heavy braking caused the aircraft to lose stability and flip onto its back. The aircraft continued to slide along the runway in an inverted position. The pilot was able to exit the aircraft without assistance, and there were no reported injuries.
The investigation
The AAIU investigation focused on the stability of the aircraft and the pilot's recent flying experience. The aircraft, a modified version of the PA-22-135, had been converted from a nose-wheel configuration to a tail-wheel configuration in 1985. This modification resulted in a high center of gravity and a narrow wheel track, characteristics that increase the risk of tipping during braking or high-power take-offs.
Investigators also reviewed the pilot's recent flight history. The investigation found that the pilot's recent experience in this specific aircraft type was extremely limited, with only 3.55 hours flown in the aircraft during the 2002 calendar year. Furthermore, much of the pilot's recent training had been conducted in much lighter, nose-wheel equipped Cessna 150 aircraft, which do not share the same handling characteristics as a tail-wheel aircraft.
Findings
- The aircraft inverted following an aborted take-off.
- The pilot applied severe braking following an aborted take-off, causing the aircraft to tip over the main wheels and invert.
- The pilot had completed less than 4 hours of flying in this specific aircraft in the eight months preceding the accident.
- The aircraft's modified configuration, featuring a high center of gravity and a narrow wheelbase, made it susceptible to instability during heavy braking.