Synopsis
On 19 January 2014 at 1230 UTC, a Pierre Robin DR400/180 Regent, registration G-JMTS, was taking off from grass Runway 20 at Stow Maries Aerodrome, Essex. The aircraft suffered an uncommanded wing drop just after lift-off. During the pilot's attempt to correct the roll, the aircraft touched down again and rolled off the end of the runway into a ploughed field, sustaining severe damage.
History of the Flight
The aircraft was taking off from Runway 20, which is a grass strip with a declared length of 650 m. The wind was estimated from 250° at 5 to 7 kt, and the surface condition was described as wet. The aircraft was approximately 113 kg below its maximum takeoff weight. The pilot reported that initial acceleration was slow, but expected, and the aircraft became airborne after about 450 m, measured subsequently from ground marks. As it passed a line of trees at the runway end, the aircraft experienced a severe uncommanded roll to the left. The pilot attempted to correct the roll, which caused a roll to the right, and then lift was lost and the aircraft touched the ground. It ran across the overshoot area and into a recently ploughed field. The nosewheel collapsed and the right wing contacted the ground, causing a violent yaw to the right before the aircraft came to a rapid halt with the engine detached from the fuselage. The three occupants (one crew, two passengers) were uninjured and evacuated normally.
Aircraft and Pilot Information
The aircraft was a Pierre Robin DR400/180 Regent, manufactured in 1991 (serial no. 2045), powered by a single Lycoming O-360-A3A piston engine. It was fitted with spats and a coarse pitch propeller. The commander held an Airline Transport Pilot's Licence, was 60 years old, and had 16,400 hours total flying experience, of which 60 hours were on type. In the last 90 days, he had flown 48 hours, and in the last 28 days, 11 hours.
Damage
The damage to the aircraft included detachment of the engine, damage to the right wing and nose landing gear.
Pilot's Belief
The pilot believes that a combination of factors probably played a part in the accident: the aircraft was heavy but within limits; it was fitted with spats and a coarse pitch propeller; the runway length was sufficient, but an airfield brief had not been obtained in person by the commander; and the airfield was wet and the effect of possible wind curl-over from the trees had not been anticipated.
Information Source
The information in this article is derived from the AAIB Bulletin 7/2014 (EW/G2014/01/10) as submitted by the pilot.