History of the Flight
The aircraft commander, holding a Flight Instructor rating, was conducting a grass runway familiarisation flight and currency check on another pilot. The pilot-under-check planned a navigation exercise from Exeter to Compton Abbas Airfield, which is situated at 811 ft amsl with a 803 m long grass runway oriented 08/26. The aircraft, at near maximum takeoff weight, departed Exeter at 1502 hrs on 15 May 2018 and arrived overhead Compton Abbas approximately one hour later. The weather was fine with a 10-15 kt wind from 350° and a temperature of 16°C.
On the first approach, the pilot-under-check flew a landing to Runway 08 with two stages of flap selected. The touchdown point was long into the runway, so the pilot immediately applied full power and went around. Two pilots on the ground estimated that the aircraft touched down in the last 200 m of the runway.
During the second approach, the pilot-under-check landed the aircraft near the beginning of the runway, intending to perform a touch-and-go. After touchdown, one stage of flap was selected for a short field takeoff and full power was applied. The aircraft commander stated that although the aircraft accelerated and rotated normally, it barely climbed and collided with the top of a hedge more than 400 m beyond the end of the runway.
After coming to rest, both occupants, who were wearing 3-point harnesses, vacated the aircraft without assistance. Both were uninjured.
Observations
A Flight Instructor who was approximately abeam the Runway 08 threshold near some hangars observed the second landing. He estimated the aircraft was at 50 ft aal, 150 m beyond the landing threshold, but did not see the touchdown as he lost sight of the aircraft behind the hangars.
Possible Factors Considered
The aircraft commander stated he was unsure why the aircraft failed to climb. He noted that possible factors, although he considered them unlikely, may have included carburettor icing (the engine did not appear to run roughly) or an area of local sink caused by the interaction of the crosswind with the hill on which the airfield is situated.