Background
On 29 December 2000, a Cessna 152 (registration G-BPTF, year of manufacture 1978) was being operated on a private flight from Deanland Airfield in Sussex. The aircraft was powered by a single Lycoming O-235-L2C piston engine. The pilot, aged 66, held a Private Pilot's Licence and had accumulated 790 flying hours, of which 700 were on type. In the previous 90 days, he had flown 40 hours, with 2 hours in the last 28 days. No passengers were on board.
Pre-Flight and Departure
The aircraft had been parked outdoors for about six weeks, exposed to adverse weather. On the day of the flight, conditions were fine with calm winds, good visibility, clear skies, and a surface temperature of 0°C. Upon arrival, the pilot removed ice from the wings, ailerons, flaps, elevators, tailplane, rear fuselage, and engine cowling. After starting the engine, it ran for approximately seven minutes, and all pre-flight checks were completed satisfactorily.
The aircraft was then lined up for departure from grass Runway 06, which is 500 metres long and 27 metres wide. With brakes released, full power was applied. Acceleration was normal, but after lift-off, the pilot reported that the aircraft was reluctant to climb.
Landing and Damage
To avoid obstacles, the pilot manoeuvred the aircraft to the left of the runway towards an adjacent field and carried out a successful landing. The only damage was minor to a wingtip and aileron. The pilot was uninjured.
Pilot's Assessment
The pilot assessed the cause of the poor performance as being due to the soft ground, calm wind conditions, and possible increased aircraft weight from frozen moisture within the airframe.