What happened
On 31 March 2016, a Europa aircraft, registration G-OURO, was involved in an accident during a private flight at Holmbeck Airfield in Buckinghamshire. The pilot was preparing to perform a demonstration flight for a prospective buyer. After taxiing to the grass runway, the pilot conducted necessary power checks and briefed the sole passenger.
Following the application of full power, the aircraft accelerated along the runway. After passing an initial uphill section, the aircraft reached rotation speed at approximately 400 m from the start of the runway. Although the aircraft achieved a liftoff height of roughly 15 ft, the right wing and nose subsequently dropped, causing the aircraft to impact the ground. The aircraft slid approximately 10 m and veered to the right before stopping, at which point the nose landing gear collapsed. The incident resulted in one minor injury to a passenger, while the pilot remained uninjured.
The investigation
The investigation examined the sequence of the takeoff roll and the aircraft's behavior immediately after liftoff. Investigators reviewed the aircraft's configuration, noting that half flaps had been selected prior to takeoff. The investigation also considered the pilot's inputs during the rotation phase. The pilot could not definitively determine if the instability was caused by an incorrect pitch trim setting or by applying excessive rearward pressure on the control column.