What happened
On 9 August 2013, a student pilot was performing a solo takeoff from Runway 27 at Gloucestershire Airport in a Cosmik Aviation EV-97 Eurostar, registration G-CEHL. During the takeoff roll, the pilot applied full power, and the aircraft lifted off at a speed between 55 and 60 mph. Shortly after reaching an altitude of approximately 8 to 10 feet, the aircraft entered a series of nose-down pitch oscillations.
In response to the instability, the pilot reduced power to idle, causing the aircraft to settle back onto the runway. During this process, the aircraft made multiple touchdowns on its nose landing gear. The impact caused the nose gear to collapse, and the aircraft skidded along the runway until it came to a stop. There were no injuries to the pilot. The airport's Rescue and Fire Fighting Service (RFFS) attended the scene, and the pilot secured the aircraft before vacating.
The investigation
The investigation was supported by the student pilot's instructor, who had witnessed the event from a nearby position. The instructor observed the repeated nose gear impacts and noted that the aircraft's pitch and motion could be replicated by applying a more aggressive down-trim setting than usual.
Analysis of the aircraft's trim system revealed that the pitch trim control on the Cosmik Aviation EV-97 Eurostar is relatively coarse and exerts a significant influence on the aircraft's attitude. The investigation established that the aircraft had been configured for takeoff with an incorrect pitch trim setting.
Findings
- The aircraft began its takeoff with an improper pitch trim configuration.
- The coarse nature of the trim control on this aircraft type allows for significant changes in pitch attitude with relatively small movements.
- The nose landing gear collapsed following multiple impacts during the pitch oscillations.