What happened
On 5 November 2007, a Bolkow F.207, registration D-EHUQ, was performing a private flight from Branscombe Airfield in Devon to Plymouth. During the takeoff roll, the aircraft encountered a bump in the grass surface. As the airspeed reached approximately 55 kt, the aircraft became airborne with the tail in a slightly raised position. Following the impact with the bump, the right wing dropped, causing the aircraft to veer toward the right side of the runway. The aircraft subsequently struck the ground and cartwheeled through a wire fence, causing the aircraft to come to rest in an adjacent field. The impact resulted in severe damage to the landing gear and the left wing, as well as a bent propeller. Both the pilot and the passenger escaped through the left-side entry door without any injuries.
The investigation
The investigation established that the wind conditions at the time were variable, ranging between 2 and 3 kt. The pilot reported that the aircraft lifted off earlier than intended. Upon the aircraft becoming airborne, the pilot attempted to correct the deviation by applying left aileron, but was unable to maintain the runway centerline. The investigation also noted that the aircraft's path took it toward an electricity pole located outside the airfield boundary.
Findings
- The aircraft became airborne prematurely due to the aircraft hitting a bump in the grass.
- The pilot failed to sufficiently lower the nose to maintain heading and airspeed following the disturbance.
- The loss of directional control led to the right wing stalling and the subsequent cartwheel through the fence.