What happened
During a scheduled local training session at RAF Kinloss, the crew of a twin-engine aircraft was conducting a series of touch-and-go maneuvers. As the aircraft began its takeoff roll, the propellers failed to transition into a fine pitch setting. In response to this mechanical malfunction, the captain initiated an aborted takeoff and applied emergency braking to stop the plane.
During the subsequent emergency procedures, the pilot attempted to retract the landing gear; however, only the nose wheel successfully retracted, leaving the main undercarriage extended. The aircraft failed to stop on the runway, eventually overrunning the paved surface and coming to a halt in an adjacent field. There were no injuries reported among the eight crew members on board. The aircraft sustained damage that was later determined to be beyond economical repair.
Findings
- The primary issue involved the propellers' inability to adjust to a fine pitch during the takeoff phase.
- Incomplete gear retraction occurred during the aborted takeoff attempt, which may have impacted the aircraft's stability or braking performance.