What happened
On 30 March 2008, a Europa XS, registration G-FIZY, was performing a private takeoff from a grass runway at White Oxmead, located approximately 4 miles southwest of Bath. As the aircraft accelerated across the uneven surface, the pilot applied slight back pressure to the control column. Due to the undulating nature of the runway, the aircraft lifted off before reaching its necessary takeoff speed.
Immediately following liftoff, the right wing began to drop. The pilot attempted to correct this by applying left aileron, but this caused the aircraft's right wing to drop further, resulting in a sharp roll to the left. As the aircraft crossed the edge of the runway, it struck a boundary hedge. The impact caused the aircraft to come to rest on its nose in a nearby field. The aircraft sustained damage to the engine, propeller, left wing, and landing gear. The pilot escaped the wreckage uninjured and was able to exit the aircraft without assistance.
The investigation
The investigation examined the flight dynamics and environmental conditions at the time of the accident. Investigators noted that the wind at the location was recorded at 240° with a speed of 5 knots, gusting to 15 knots. The investigation focused on how the aircraft's interaction with the uneven runway surface and the pilot's control inputs contributed to the loss of control.
Findings
- The aircraft lifted off the undulating grass surface before achieving the required takeoff speed.
- The right wing became partially stalled due to the aircraft's rotation and the pilot's corrective control inputs.
- The pilot's attempt to correct the initial wing drop with left aileron actually exacerbated the roll to the left.
- The gusty wind conditions may have caused a momentary decrease in airspeed, contributing to the wing drop.