What happened
On 13 December 2015, a Robin DR400/180 Regent, registration G-CGGO, was involved in an accident at Croft Marsh Airfield in Lincolnshire. During a private flight, the pilot was taxiing along a grass taxiway toward a runway oriented 080°M. Due to the wet surface conditions and the relatively short length of the runway, the pilot attempted a maneuver involving moving to the left side of the taxiway to execute a sweeping turn and a rolling start.
As the pilot applied full power while still on the taxiway, the aircraft's nose swung to the left. This movement caused the left wingtip to impact a tree and the propeller to strike the ground, which resulted in the engine stopping. There were no injuries to the pilot.
The investigation
Investigators examined the circumstances surrounding the maneuver and the aircraft's performance. The pilot, who held a private pilot's licence and had 648 total flying hours, noted that this was his first time operating the 180 HP variant of the aircraft, having previously flown the 160 HP version for six years. The investigation established that the pilot was surprised by the increased tendency of the more powerful engine to cause the aircraft to turn left when full power was applied.