What happened
On 20 August 2015, a Piper PA28-161, registration SE-GPN, was performing a solo school flight at Västerås/Hässlö Airport. The student pilot was conducting a navigation training mission, intending to fly a circuit including Örebro and Eskilstuna.
During the takeoff roll on runway 19, the aircraft initially proceeded normally. However, as the speed reached approximately 50 knots, the pilot attempted to correct a slight rightward veer by adjusting the rudder pedals. This correction resulted in a significant leftward yaw that the pilot could not counteract. In an attempt to stop the aircraft, the pilot reduced power and applied right rudder. The aircraft veered off the paved runway, crossed the grass strip, and crashed through a perimeter fence before coming to a halt in a nearby field. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, including damage to the wings and propeller, but there were no injuries to the occupant.
The investigation
Investigators from the Swedish Accident Investigation Authority (SHK) examined the aircraft and the accident site. A review of the aircraft's mechanical systems, including the brakes, steering, and engine controls, revealed no technical malfunctions. Maintenance records were found to be in order.
Analysis of the wheel tracks on the runway and grass strip showed that the left main gear had left a mark on the asphalt, suggesting that the left brake may have been inadvertently applied. Because the brake pedals are located on the upper portion of the rudder pedals, accidental contact is possible. The investigation also noted that the engine was at idle power when the aircraft struck the fence, as the wire mesh had wrapped around the propeller, causing the engine to stall.
Findings
- The student pilot experienced increasing levels of stress during the excursion, which hindered the ability to make effective control inputs to correct the veer.
- The student pilot had limited flight experience, having completed only about three hours of solo flight time prior to this event.
- An accidental application of the left brake may have contributed to the sudden leftward yaw during the takeoff roll.