What happened
On 15 June 2004, a Europa aircraft, registration G-CHAV, was involved in an accident during a training flight at Gloucester Airport. The flight was a conversion training session, with the pilot in the left-hand seat having completed nearly three hours of dual instruction on the type.
During the first touch-and-go of the circuit, the aircraft touched down on Runway 27. While the touchdown itself was standard, the aircraft was positioned to the left of the centerline. Due to a delay in settling the aircraft, it was traveling at a lower speed than usual when power was applied for takeoff. As the pilot attempted to raise the tail using forward stick, the nose pitch remained high, and the aircraft began to drift left while yawing right into a 15-knot wind from 330°(M).
In an attempt to realign with the runway, the pilot applied right then left rudder. As the aircraft reached the edge of the paved surface, it became partially airborne, likely due to encountering the raised grass edge of the runway. The instructor took control of the aircraft, noting that the throttle was not at the full power position. Upon the application of full power, the nose rose further, and the left wing dropped. The wingtip contacted the grass, causing the aircraft to slide sideways for about 45 yards, resulting in damage to the undercarriage and propeller. No injuries were reported to the two crew members.
The investigation
The investigation examined the flight dynamics and the environmental conditions at the time of the incident. Investigators looked into the aircraft's pitch attitude, the impact of the crosswind, and the specific sequence of control inputs used by both the handling pilot and the instructor. The analysis focused on whether the throttle setting or the aircraft's aerodynamic state contributed to the loss of directional control.
Findings
- The aircraft's high initial nose attitude likely caused it to become partially airborne at a low airspeed and increased aerodynamic drag.
- A reduced acceleration, potentially caused by the throttle being set at less than full power, hindered the aircraft's ability to maintain control.
- The moderate crosswind made the aircraft vulnerable to drifting, and the aircraft's position on the left side of the runway left insufficient pavement width to correct the developing leftward swing.
- The aircraft was likely in or near a stalled condition when it briefly became airborne at the runway edge.