Accident Overview
On 7 August 2007, at 1500 hours UTC, an Aerotechnik EV-97A Eurostar, registration G-CCLE, experienced a takeoff accident at Newhouse Farm, Hardwicke, near Hay-on-Wye. The aircraft was operated on a private flight with one pilot and one passenger on board. No injuries were sustained by either occupant. The aircraft was damaged beyond economic repair.
History of the Flight
The pilot taxied to the grass Runway 09 at Newhouse Farm, intending to fly to Oxford. After selecting one stage of flap, the pilot held the brakes and applied full throttle, noting that engine temperatures and pressures were normal. He released the brakes and began the takeoff roll down the downhill runway. To keep weight off the nosewheel, he applied some back pressure to the control stick.
Approximately three seconds into the roll, the aircraft became airborne as it passed over a bump on the runway. The right wing then dropped. The pilot applied left aileron but observed little effect. As the bank angle to the right increased, the pilot elected to abort the takeoff and reduced the throttle. The passenger, a co-owner of the aircraft, then shouted for the pilot to apply throttle again. The pilot complied and attempted to continue the takeoff. A few seconds later, while still banked to the right, the aircraft struck the top of a hedge, cartwheeled, and came to rest upright beyond the hedge, facing the direction of travel.
Injuries and Damage
Both the pilot and passenger exited the aircraft normally and were not injured. The aircraft sustained damage to the propeller, engine, landing gear, and the leading edges of the wings. The damage was assessed as beyond economic repair.
Probable Cause
The pilot attributed the accident to his excessive back pressure on the control stick as the aircraft passed over the bump, which allowed the aircraft to become airborne at too low a speed. This led to a stall and the subsequent right wing drop.