What happened
On 23 November 2007, a Piper PA-30 Twin Comanche, registration N7EY, was performing a private flight from Farley Farm Airstrip in Hampshire. The aircraft had been at the airfield for maintenance and modifications, and the purpose of the flight was to return the aircraft to its base at White Waltham.
During the takeoff roll on Runway 24, approximately 40 metres from the start of the runway, the aircraft suddenly veered to the right and left the grass surface. The aircraft entered an adjacent field, where it encountered rough terrain. This excursion caused the left main landing gear to detach from the airframe, leading to subsequent damage to the left wing and the propeller, as well as shock loading of the engine. The pilot was uninjured and was able to shut down the engines before exiting the aircraft.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. Investigators examined the condition of the runway and the aircraft's mechanical state. The grass runway was noted to be damp at the time of the incident. The pilot reported that during pre-flight checks, the brakes and rudder appeared to be functioning correctly, though a slight movement of the aircraft during checks led him to reapply the brakes.
Analysis of the tyre tracks left in the grass indicated that the main wheels had locked up during the initial stages of the takeoff roll. The pilot suggested that the brakes might not have been completely released before the takeoff roll commenced.