What happened
On 5 April 2010, a Cirrus SR22, registration N404RW, was involved in an accident during a private flight departing from White Waltham Airfield. The pilot, accompanied by the aircraft owner, intended to perform practice instrument approaches. After completing a power check and lining up on Runway 21, the pilot applied full power for takeoff.
As the aircraft accelerated, it became airborne at a low speed. During the takeoff roll, the aircraft experienced a small pitch oscillation at approximately 52 kt. Shortly after, at 57 kt, the pitch attitude increased to 11° nose-up, followed by a rapid roll to the right and then to the left. The left wing struck the ground, causing the aircraft to cartwheel. The fuselage came to rest on the runway, substantially damaged, and the occupants evacuated the cabin just before a fire broke out. There were no injuries to the two occupants.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage and found no evidence of mechanical failure or malfunction. The aircraft's trim was set within the mid-range, and neither the seatbelt-mounted airbags nor the ballistic parachute deployed.
Data retrieved from the aircraft's SD cards confirmed the flight parameters during the takeoff roll. Additionally, the runway surface was inspected. Investigators noted that the grass runway was somewhat rough in certain areas and featured a notable undulation where Runway 21 intersected with Runway 25.
Findings
- The aircraft became airborne at a speed lower than the 70 kt recommended for smooth rotation in the flight manual.
- The undulating runway surface likely contributed to the aircraft lifting off at an insufficient speed.
- The pilot lacked specific training and experience on this particular aircraft type, which may have hindered their ability to manage the loss of control.
- The passenger, who was more experienced on the type, was not actively monitoring the takeoff closely enough to intervene.