Incident Overview
On 3 March 2001 at 1317 UTC, a Piper PA-28-180 aircraft, registration G-LFSG, departed the runway during takeoff at Liverpool Airport. The aircraft sustained minor damage, and the sole occupant, the student pilot, was uninjured.
Aircraft and Crew Information
The aircraft, a single-engine Piper PA-28-180 powered by a Lycoming O-360-A4A piston engine, was manufactured in 1970. The commander was a 48-year-old student pilot with 104 total flying hours, including 13 hours on the accident type. He had flown no hours in the preceding 90 days.
Sequence of Events
The pilot was conducting a 40-minute solo flight to fulfill recency requirements before his skill test. After completing pre-takeoff checks, he received clearance to line up and wait on Runway 09. The reported wind was 150° at 9 knots. The pilot applied into-wind aileron and set approximately half throttle to start the takeoff roll. At 30 knots indicated airspeed, the aircraft deviated left. The pilot corrected with right rudder, straightening the aircraft. As full power was applied and the aircraft reached an estimated 40 knots, it again veered left. Despite full right rudder input, the aircraft continued left. The pilot closed the throttle and applied the toe brakes, but the aircraft left the runway and ran onto adjacent grass, where it slowed and stopped. The pilot secured the aircraft by turning off fuel and ignition and exited normally. The airfield Rescue and Fire Fighting Service attended and recovered the aircraft.
Conclusions
Discussions between club training staff and the pilot concluded that, in attempting to maintain the runway centerline, the pilot had not allowed the nose landing gear to lift off. This resulted in a wheelbarrowing effect, where the main landing gear lifts off while the nose wheel remains in contact with the runway. The left rudder pedal applied to counter the crosswind would have pointed the nose wheel left, causing a sudden change in direction and the runway departure.