What happened
On 2 April 2021, an RAF 2000 GTX-SE, registration G-BXKM, was performing a private flight from a field in Whitby, Yorkshire. The aircraft, carrying a pilot and one passenger, was operating at a weight near its maximum takeoff limit. During the departure, which followed a heading of 250°, the pilot attempted to gain airspeed while remaining at a low altitude.
As the aircraft reached approximately 50 mph, the pilot initiated a climb to avoid an encroaching tree plantation. During this maneuver, the aircraft lost altitude and struck the treetops. The landing gear made contact with the foliage, causing the aircraft to come to a sudden stop and fall vertically to the ground. The rotor blades helped slow the descent as the aircraft became entangled in the trees, eventually resting on its side. Both occupants sustained minor injuries, consisting of cuts and bruises, and were able to exit the wreckage without assistance.
The investigation
The investigation examined the flight conditions and the aircraft's performance during the critical takeoff phase. The crew reported that the aircraft had been slow to accelerate, a factor attributed to the high takeoff weight and the fact that the aircraft was not flying directly into the wind. The investigation also considered the aerodynamic state of the aircraft during the climb. The pilot suggested that the aircraft may have been flying behind the power curve and potentially encountered wind rotor turbulence caused by the windward side of the tree plantation.