What happened
On 7 August 2005, an Avions Pierre Robin DR400-180R, registration D-EKSI, was performing aerotow operations at Lasham Airfield, Hampshire. The aircraft was preparing for its second glider launch of the session following a period of refueling.
During the takeoff roll, the pilot noticed smoke and heard a radio announcement indicating that the aircraft was on fire. Approximately 30 feet above the ground, the pilot felt the glider release. In response to the fire, the pilot closed the throttle and performed the necessary emergency procedures for an engine fire, landing on a grass strip north of the paved runway.
As the aircraft slowed, the pilot steered back onto the hard runway and applied maximum braking. However, the aircraft could not be stopped before running off the end of the paved surface, coming to rest approximately 20 meters into the grass overshoot area. The pilot evacuated the aircraft, but by that time, smoke was already in the cockpit and flames were visible outside. Due to the intensity of the fire, the pilot chose to vacate the area immediately. The aircraft was destroyed by fire.
The investigation
The investigation was informed by the pilot's accident report and observations from the tug master. The tug master reported seeing dense, blue/white smoke emerging from beneath the engine cowl during the initial takeoff roll, which appeared to be oil spraying onto the exhaust system. The witness's account of the fire's progression matched the pilot's description.
Because the fire was so intense that it consumed the wooden structure of the aircraft, leaving only the engine block and landing gear, investigators were unable to perform a detailed examination of the engine components to determine the exact origin of the fire.