What happened
On 9 April 2006, a Jodel D120A Paris-Nice, registration G-BMLB, was performing a private takeoff from Runway 03 at Lydd Airport, Kent. The flight was part of a local trip, marking only the pilot's second flight of the year. At the time of the accident, the weather conditions were favorable, with a steady surface wind reported from 320 degrees at 12 knots, resulting in an 11-knot crosswind component from the left.
The takeoff roll proceeded normally until the pilot applied elevator control to lift the tailwheel from the ground. Once the tailwheel left the surface, the aircraft began to swing toward the left. Although the pilot attempted to correct this movement using the rudder, the intervention triggered an uncontrollable yaw oscillation. To prevent further deviation, the pilot reduced the throttle, but the aircraft had already drifted off the right side of the runway and onto the grass. The impact caused the left landing gear to collapse and resulted in damage to the left wing.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. Investigators examined the flight conditions, specifically the impact of the crosswind component on the aircraft's stability during the transition from a three-point to a tail-low attitude. The investigation also noted the pilot's recent flying experience, noting that the pilot had only completed one hour of flight time in the preceding 90 days.