What happened
On 18 November 2012, a Cessna 180, registration G-BEOD, was performing a private flight at Lydd Airport in Kent. The pilot was conducting practice circuits, utilizing Runway 03. During the takeoff roll, the aircraft was configured with the first stage of flaps selected. As the aircraft accelerated and the tail lifted under full power, the pilot applied right rudder to compensate for engine torque.
At an indicated speed of 60 mph, the aircraft became airborne. However, as the end of the runway approached, the aircraft suddenly veered to the left. In an attempt to correct the deviation using right aileron and rudder, the pilot was unable to prevent the right wingtip from making contact with the ground. The impact caused the right main landing gear strut to detach, and the aircraft subsequently came to a stop.
The investigation
The investigation, prompted by the pilot's accident report, examined the sequence of the takeoff roll and the aircraft's handling. The investigation established that the wind at the time was approximately 090 degrees at a speed of 4 knots. The physical damage to the aircraft was assessed, noting significant impact to the right wingtip, the tailplane, and the propeller, alongside the failure of the landing gear strut.
Findings
- The aircraft sustained damage to the right wing, landing gear, propeller, and tailplane.
- There were no injuries to the two crew members on board.
- The primary factor in the incident was the inability to maintain directional control during the transition to flight, leading to the wingtip striking the runway surface.