What happened
On July 3, 2016, a SC01 B-160 "Speed Canard" departed from runway 33 at Mosbach-Lohrbach Aerodrome (EDGM) for a cross-country flight to Strausberg. According to the airfield manager, the aircraft did not utilize the full length of the runway via a backtrack prior to takeoff, and no engine check was performed at the taxiway.
The aircraft reached the halfway marker at a low speed and did not rotate until the final third of the runway. Upon liftoff, witnesses observed the aircraft oscillating and tilting approximately 10 to 20 degrees from the horizontal, appearing to enter a stall. The aircraft subsequently pitched left and disappeared from view. The aircraft struck a hedge and a field approximately 200 meters northwest of the runway end, where it overturned and caught fire. The pilot sustained fatal injuries, and the aircraft was destroyed.
The investigation
The BFU investigation examined the aircraft's configuration, the pilot's experience, and the mechanical state of the flight controls. The investigation found that the autopilot switch was in the "ON" position at the time of the accident. The aircraft, a two-seat canard-configuration design, had been retrofitted with an autopilot system in 1998, which also controlled the electric trim.
Investigators also reviewed the pilot's credentials, noting a long history of flight experience as a flight instructor and private pilot. While specific recent flight logs were partially destroyed by the fire, the pilot was considered experienced with the specific characteristics of the SC01 B-160 "Speed Canard".
Findings
- The aircraft entered an uncontrolled flight state following takeoff.
- The autopilot was found in the "ON" position, which is prohibited by the flight manual during takeoff and landing.
- The activated autopilot or an improper nose-down trim prevented the pilot from adequately controlling the elevator during the critical takeoff phase.
- Due to the specific design of the aircraft, the wings do not generate lift during the takeoff roll, requiring the pilot to actively pull the stick to rotate; the pilot may have been unable to overcome the electric trim resistance using only wrist strength.
- The aircraft likely achieved a high angle of attack due to a runway bump or a late rotation at low speed, leading to the subsequent loss of control.