What happened
On 23 May 2008, a Flight Design CT2K, registration G-CCNP, was attempting a single circuit from a grass airstrip in Dorchester, Dorset. The weather conditions were clear with good visibility and a light crosswind from the right. As the pilot applied full power for takeoff, the aircraft began to veer toward the left side of the runway.
The aircraft continued its leftward trajectory, eventually leaving the runway and entering an adjacent wheat field. During the excursion, the nosewheel collapsed, causing the propeller and spinner to strike the ground. The momentum caused the aircraft to tip forward, eventually coming to rest upside down on its cockpit roof and wing upper surface. The pilot was able to exit the aircraft via the left door without injury, and later returned to the cockpit to shut off the fuel and electrical systems.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the pilot's control inputs and the aircraft's handling characteristics during the takeoff roll. Investigators examined the pilot's previous flying experience, noting significant time on flex-wing microlight aircraft. The analysis also looked at the sequence of engine power application and the subsequent failure to abort the takeoff.
Findings
- The aircraft possesses an inherent tendency to yaw left when power is applied during takeoff.
- The pilot applied left rudder instead of the required right rudder, likely due to muscle memory from operating flex-wing aircraft, where left-foot pressure is used to steer right.
- The pilot did not immediately close the throttle after the initial veer, which increased the speed of the excursion.
- The pilot had not sufficiently prepared a procedure for rejecting a takeoff in the event of an abnormality.
- The aircraft sustained damage to the engine, nosewheel assembly, propeller, spinner, rudder, and wing base.