What happened
On 30 July 2006, a Piper PA-22-150, registration G-ARCC, was performing a private flight from Popham Airfield in Hampshire. The aircraft was carrying one pilot and three passengers. During the takeoff roll from the grass Runway 26, the pilot applied back pressure to the control column once the airspeed reached approximately 50 mph.
Shortly after becoming airborne, the pilot realized that the aircraft was maintaining an excessively high pitch attitude and that the airspeed was not increasing as expected. Fearing that lowering the nose might cause the aircraft to strike a hedge at the airfield boundary, the pilot chose to maintain the high attitude to ensure clearance of nearby trees. This decision led to a loss of airspeed, causing the aircraft to stall. The aircraft then experienced a violent roll and yaw to the left, striking the ground with a wing tip before somertaulting several times and coming to rest in an inverted position.
The investigation
An AAIB inspector examined the wreckage and interviewed witnesses. Observations from the airfield clubhouse and other witnesses confirmed the aircraft climbed at a very steep angle and failed to gain sufficient height. The investigation noted that the aircraft was operating at nearly its maximum all-up weight, and the ambient temperature was expected to be 20°C or higher.
Examination of the wreckage showed that the aircraft initially impacted on the left wing tip and the nose. While the aircraft sustained extensive damage to the engine, propeller, and fuselage, the cabin area remained largely intact, which helped limit the injuries to the four occupants, all of whom sustained minor injuries.
Findings
- The aircraft was operating at nearly its maximum takeoff weight in high ambient temperatures.
- The pilot maintained an excessively high pitch attitude to avoid obstacles, which led to decaying airspeed.
- The aircraft's performance was further compromised by the use of one stage of flaps and the takeoff from a grass runway with a slight downslope.
- The symptoms of the flight were consistent with a stall and entry into an incipient spin caused by the failure to allow the aircraft to accelerate at an optimum pitch angle.