What happened
On 25 September 2015, a Cessna 550 (registration VH-FGK) was prepared for a private flight from Lismore Airport to Baryulgil, New South Wales. Following a standard pre-flight inspection and the removal of control locks, the flight crew determined takeoff speeds of 105 kt for V1 and 108 kt for VR. After starting the engines and taxiing to the holding point for runway 15, the crew received clearance and began the takeoff roll from the runway intersection.
As the aircraft accelerated, the crew reached the calculated rotation speed. However, the pilot attempted to rotate the aircraft, but the nose did not lift, and there was no change in the aircraft's attitude. Despite the pilot applying significant back pressure on the control column, the aircraft failed to rotate. Upon realizing the aircraft would not lift off, the captain aborted the takeoff, applying full braking and transitioning the engines to idle and reverse thrust.
The aircraft exited the paved surface and traveled into the runway end safety area (RESA), coming to a stop on the grass approximately 100 m past the runway end. The incident resulted in no injuries to the two crew members, but the aircraft sustained significant structural damage to the wings and fuselage. During the excursion, the nose landing gear detached from the airframe, and the right tire suffered a large hole due to a lockup and flat spot.
Findings
- The aircraft failed to achieve rotation despite the airspeed exceeding the calculated VR.
- The aircraft did not rotate during the takeoff roll, leading to the aborted takeoff and subsequent excursion onto the grass.