What happened
On 17 October 2010, a Cassutt Racer IIIM, registration G-BNJZ, was involved in an accident at Hinton-in-the-Hedges Airfield in Northamptonshire. The flight was a private operation involving a pilot who had been engaged to assess the aircraft for a prospective buyer.
Prior to the flight, the owner had advised the pilot to lift the tail wheel quickly during the takeoff roll due to the coarse nature of the propeller. During the takeoff attempt on grass Runway 06, the pilot observed that the tail wheel remained on the ground and the surface appeared damp. Fearing the aircraft would fail to become airborne, the pilot decided to abort the takeoff. Consequently, the aircraft exited the runway and came to rest in a hedge. The aircraft sustained damage to the engine, cowlings, propeller, and the leading edge and tip of the left wing. There were no injuries to the pilot.
The investigation
AAIB investigators reviewed the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot and conducted further enquiries. The investigation focused on the conditions of the airfield and the pilot's decision-making during the takeoff roll. Witnesses at the scene noted the dampness of the grass and the behavior of the aircraft during the initial acceleration.