What happened
On the evening of 9 January 2001, a Piper PA-28R-201T, registration G-SHUG, was preparing for a private night flight from Wycombe Air Park in Buckinghamshire. After receiving clearance to depart from Runway 25, the pilot began the takeoff roll on the dry asphalt surface.
As the aircraft progressed down the runway and passed the intersection with Runway 17/35, the pilot experienced a noticeable drop in engine power. In response to this loss of performance, the pilot initiated an aborted takeoff by closing the throttle and applying full braking. Despite these efforts, the aircraft failed to stop within the runway limits, running off the end of the asphalt and skidding across the grass. The impact caused the right main landing gear to collapse and resulted in minor damage to the airframe. The aircraft eventually came to a halt roughly 40 metres past the threshold of Runway 07. Both the pilot and the passenger escaped the incident with no injuries.
The investigation
Investigators examined the mechanical state of the aircraft and the environmental conditions at the time of the accident. An engineering inspection performed by a maintenance organisation focused on the engine's induction and turbocharging systems. This inspection revealed a failure in the plumbing connecting the turbocharger to the engine. Additionally, the investigation reviewed the wind conditions and runway parameters to determine the factors contributing to the aircraft's inability to stop on the remaining runway length.