What happened
On 18 September 2008, a Jabiru UL, registration G-UJAB, was performing a private flight departing from the Newnham airstrip in Hertfordshire. The aircraft was attempting a takeoff in an easterly direction, with wind conditions reported at less than 8 km/ hr from 120°.
As the aircraft accelerated, having covered roughly 30 yards, it began to swing toward the right. The pilot initially managed to counteract this movement using nosewheel steering. However, a second, more significant swing to the right occurred shortly thereafter. The pilot was unable to maintain directional control, causing the aircraft to leave the runway and run into a small ditch at the edge of the airfield. This resulted in a ground loop where the aircraft rotated nearly 180°. During the excursion, the left main landing gear collapsed, and the aircraft sustained damage to the nose leg housing, the underside of the fuselage, and the elevator horn.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the accident report submitted by the pilot. Investigators examined the runway surface at the site of the occurrence to identify any external factors that might have caused the loss of directional control. The inspection of the grass strip revealed no ruts or holes that could have contributed to the deviation.
Findings
- The pilot could not definitively identify the cause of the initial rightward swing.
- The pilot suspected that the right mainwheel may have encountered long grass at the edge of the runway, which would have created increased drag on that side as the aircraft gained speed, contributing to the uncontrolled swing to the right.