Aircraft Information
The accident involved an Ikarus C42 FB100 microlight, registration G-FLYC, manufactured in 2005 (serial number 0503-6656). It was powered by a single Rotax 912 ULS piston engine. The aircraft was operated on a private flight.
Pilot and Flight Planning
The pilot, aged 55, held a National Private Pilot's Licence and had accumulated 298 flying hours, of which 276 were on the accident type. She had flown 13 hours in the preceding 90 days and 3 hours in the last 28 days. The flight was planned as a navigation exercise to Compton Abbas airfield, approximately 35 nautical miles west. The weather was fine, but strong winds were forecast at 2,000 ft. Takeoff was intended on Runway 22, a grass runway 648 m long. The runway surface was wet, with a 10 kt surface wind from 280°, creating a crosswind from the right.
Takeoff and Accident Sequence
While taxiing on the wet runway prior to takeoff, the pilot noted occasional slipping but was not concerned. She positioned the aircraft left of the centreline to avoid wetter ground to the right. Without stopping, she applied full throttle to start the takeoff run, holding the control column to the right and slightly aft to compensate for the crosswind.
After a short distance, the aircraft began to deviate to the left. Unable to correct the deviation, the pilot decided to abandon the takeoff. She applied the wheel brakes but experienced no noticeable retardation on the wet surface. The aircraft continued leftward, leaving the runway, and the left main wheel entered a drainage ditch. This caused a rapid yaw to the left and a nose-down pitch, bringing the aircraft to an abrupt stop.
Aftermath and Damage
Both the pilot and passenger were uninjured. They shut down the aircraft and vacated. The accident resulted in damage to the nose leg, propeller, wheel spats, wing struts, and left wing.