Synopsis
On 6 June 2022, a Cessna 152 aircraft, registration VT-EUW, operated by the Government Aviation Training Institute (GATI) at Birasal, Odisha, experienced a runway excursion during the take-off roll for a solo circuit and landing training sortie. The aircraft departed the runway and struck a drain cover, resulting in substantial damage. The sole occupant, a trainee pilot holding a Student Pilot License (SPL), sustained minor injuries.
History of the Flight
According to the daily flying training schedule, aircraft VT-EUW was assigned two solo circuits, three dual circuits, and one general flying sortie. A dual circuit and landing sortie of 50 minutes with three landings was completed earlier that day without any reported abnormalities. The trainee pilot reported for duty, passed a pre-flight breath analyzer test, and received a briefing from an instructor for the solo sortie, which was to include four circuits with two intentional go-arounds and two landings.
During the pre-flight inspection, no anomalies were noted. The trainee pilot prepared the load and trim sheet, which was verified by the instructor. After boarding, the trainee requested and received ATC clearance to start the engine. The aircraft taxied to the holding point for runway 27. During the pre-takeoff checks, all flight controls were functional, except that the rudder pedal movement felt sluggish. The trainee pilot noted this but chose to proceed, as no discrepancy had been reported during the previous dual sortie.
Accident Sequence
The aircraft lined up on runway 27. The trainee pilot began the take-off roll with gradual power and a slight right rudder input. As the aircraft approached 50 knots, it began to veer left. The trainee pilot applied opposite rudder, but the aircraft continued leftward, exited the runway, and impacted a drain cover of a water drainage line before coming to rest.
Aircraft and Personnel Information
The aircraft was a Cessna 152, owned by the Government of Odisha and operated by GATI. It held a valid Certificate of Airworthiness. The trainee pilot held a valid Student Pilot License and had been released for solo flight by the instructor. The pilot sustained minor injuries; no other persons were on board.
Damage
The aircraft sustained substantial damage. No other property damage was reported.
Probable Cause
The investigation determined that the probable cause of the accident was the trainee pilot's failure to apply correct and adequate corrective rudder inputs to keep the aircraft on the runway centreline, consistent with the aircraft veering left and exiting the runway. Additionally, the trainee pilot did not perform a rejected take-off when the aircraft deviated from the centreline.