No fatalities

2000-12-15: Fletcher FU-24 (ZK-BHL) — Private New Zealand — Raglan, New Zealand

Raglan, New ZealandTakeoff (climb)

On December 15, 2000, a Fletcher FU-24 (registration ZK-BHL) operated by Private New Zealand was involved in an aviation accident near Raglan, New Zealand during takeoff. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft failed to gain sufficient airspeed during takeoff, possibly due to a malfunctioning parking brake. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 1781203029Data APIEditorial standards

A single-engine aircraft crashed to the left of its departure area during a takeoff roll while performing agricultural spraying operations.

What happened

During a local agricultural mission involving crop spraying, an aircraft experienced mechanical issues while attempting to depart. The pilot, who was the only person on board, was performing a takeoff roll when the aircraft failed to accelerate as expected. The pilot believed that the parking brake may have been malfunctioning or failing to release properly.

Following the attempt at liftoff, the aircraft was unable to maintain its altitude and lost height. The plane subsequently crashed in an area situated to the left of the departure runway. While the aircraft sustained damage beyond repair, the pilot was able to exit the wreckage and escaped the accident uninjured.

Findings

Initial observations during the flight sequence suggest that the aircraft encountered significant difficulty gaining necessary airspeed during the takeoff phase. The pilot's assessment pointed toward a potential issue with the parking brake preventing a smooth acceleration.

Probable cause

The aircraft failed to gain sufficient airspeed during takeoff, possibly due to a malfunctioning parking brake.