What happened
On April 6, 2013, at approximately 14:50 local time, a DynAero MCR 01 Sportster was attempting a takeoff from the grass runway at Hüttenbusch airfield (EDXU). The pilot began the takeoff roll approximately 50 meters before the approved runway threshold. During the acceleration phase, the aircraft encountered several irregularities in the terrain. As the aircraft passed through a depression in the ground, the nose gear buckled backward. This caused the propeller to strike the ground, which subsequently forced the nose of the aircraft upward. The aircraft then underwent a slow longitudinal capsize, coming to rest on its back. The pilot sustained serious injuries, and the aircraft was heavily damaged.
The investigation
The BFU examined the aircraft and the site of the accident, which was located just before the threshold of runway 27. Investigators found the aircraft in an inverted position, with the tail section near the runway threshold. Physical evidence showed the first propeller contact occurred approximately 20 meters from the final position, with propeller debris found 7 meters prior.
Inspection of the DynAero MCR 01 revealed significant structural damage, including a nose gear that had collapsed at a 20-degree angle, a shattered cockpit canopy, and a crushed lower fuselage area behind the firewall. The left wing sustained compression and separation of the leading edge, while the right wing remained largely intact. The investigation also noted that the aircraft had been recently sold and was being operated by the pilot to perform a ferry flight to a new owner. The aircraft had not flown since its last airworthiness inspection in November 2012.