Incident Overview
On 31 March 2016, at approximately 1400 UTC, a Europa aircraft registered G-OURO was undertaking a private takeoff from Runway 29 at Holmbeck Airfield in Buckinghamshire. The purpose of the flight was to demonstrate the aircraft to a potential buyer. The pilot, aged 70, held a Private Pilot’s Licence with a total flying experience of 281 hours, of which 85 hours were on type. His recent flying experience included 1 hour in the last 90 days and 1 hour in the last 28 days. There was one passenger on board.
Sequence of Events
The pilot taxied to the grass runway, which was 517 m long. The wind was reported from 350° at 5 kt. After performing power checks, briefing the passenger, and selecting half flap, the pilot applied full power for takeoff. The first 50 m of the runway featured an upslope, after which the aircraft accelerated normally. The pilot rotated at 50 kt, approximately 400 m down the runway. The aircraft lifted off to a height of about 15 ft, but then the right wing and nose dropped, causing the aircraft to strike the ground. It slid for about 10 m and slewed to the right before coming to a halt with the nose landing gear collapsed.
Injuries and Damage
The pilot reported no injuries. The passenger sustained minor injuries. The aircraft sustained damage including collapse of the nose landing gear, damage to the propeller, and damage to the engine cowl.
Pilot's Account
The pilot was uncertain whether he had set the pitch trim incorrectly or had applied too much rearward movement of the control column, contributing to the loss of control after lift-off.
Aircraft Information
The aircraft was a Europa, manufactured in 1995 (Serial No: PFA 247-12522), powered by one Rotax 912 ULS piston engine. The commander’s licence type and age are noted, but no further details on the aircraft's maintenance or previous issues were provided in the report.