What happened
On 7 August 2007, an Aerotechnik EV-97A Eurostar, registration G-CCLE, was performing a private flight from Newhouse Farm, Hardwicke, near Hay-on-Wye, destined for Oxford. During the takeoff roll on the downhill grass runway 09, the pilot applied back pressure to the control stick to prevent the nosewheel from absorbing too much weight. As the aircraft passed over a bump in the runway, this pressure caused the aircraft to become airborne prematurely.
Upon lifting off, the right wing dropped significantly. The pilot initially attempted to abort the takeoff by cutting the throttle; however, following a request from the passenger to continue, the pilot reapplied full power. Despite applying left aileron, the bank angle continued to increase. The aircraft subsequently struck the top of a hedge and cartwheeled, eventually coming to rest upright. There were no injuries to the pilot or the passenger, though the aircraft was damaged beyond economic repair.
The investigation
The investigation examined the flight sequence, the runway conditions, and the pilot's control inputs. It was established that the aircraft's engine parameters, including temperatures and pressures, were normal during the initial roll. The investigation focused on the impact of the runway topography and the pilot's use of the control stick as the aircraft encountered a bump on the downhill slope.