What happened
On 19 February 2009, a P & M Aviation QuikR, registration G-CFOO, was conducting a private flight near Ilkeston, Derbyshire. During the takeoff roll, the aircraft began drifting toward the left side of the runway. While the pilot managed to become airborne, the aircraft failed to reach the necessary flying speed.
Upon realizing the aircraft was not performing as expected, the pilot applied heavy braking. However, the deceleration was insufficient to stop the aircraft before it struck a hedge located to the left of the runway. The impact caused damage to the trike, the wing, and the propeller. While the pilot escaped without injury, the passenger sustained a minor injury consisting of a broken foot.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the Air Accident Report Form provided by the pilot. The examination focused on the aircraft's performance during the takeoff phase and the pilot's subsequent attempts to stop the vehicle before the collision with the hedge.