What happened
On 30 July 1998, a Piper PA-18, registration G-BVRZ, was performing a private flight from a grass airstrip located near Kilrea, Northern Ireland. The aircraft was operating at a weight near its maximum limit during the takeoff roll on runway 26, facing a north-westerly wind of 8 to 12 knots.
As the aircraft accelerated, the pilot maintained a low altitude to facilitate further speed gain. However, upon reaching an uphill section of the runway, the pilot determined that the aircraft lacked the necessary airspeed to clear the rising terrain ahead. To avoid the obstacle, the pilot attempted to abort the takeoff. Recognizing that there was inadequate runway remaining for a straight-ahead stop, the pilot applied right rudder to yaw the aircraft into the wind, aiming to shorten the landing distance.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the aerodynamic behavior of the aircraft during the aborted takeoff maneuver. It was established that the aircraft was heavily loaded, which contributed to the difficulty in climbing the incline. The investigation examined the pilot's decision-making process and the physical inputs used to redirect the aircraft during the high-speed ground roll.
Findings
- The aircraft was operating at a weight close to its maximum allowable limit.
- The pilot attempted to use rudder input to turn the aircraft into the wind to reduce the required stopping distance.
- The application of right rudder at a low airspeed caused the right wing to stall.
- The resulting roll led to the aircraft impacting the ground, causing substantial damage to the fuselage and the right wing.