What happened
On 17 September 2006, a Pitts S-1C (registration G-LOOP) was performing a private flight departure from Sandown Airport on the Isle of Wight. While accelerating along the 884-metre grass Runway 23, the aircraft encountered a bump in the runway surface at approximately 40 mph. This disturbance caused the aircraft to become airborne before it had reached a sufficient flying speed.
Following the premature liftoff, the aircraft landed heavily, which caused it to slew off the runway. The pilot subsequently shut down the engine. The aircraft sustained damage to the propeller, lower cowling, fairings, and the undercarriage. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, vacated the cockpit without any injuries.
The investigation
The investigation examined the runway conditions and the pilot's actions. While the airfield owner noted that weather conditions were deteriorating and that the pilot appeared to be in a hurry to depart, the owner did not personally witness the accident. The investigation also looked into the runway surface itself; a review of the AAIB database for the preceding decade showed no previous accidents at Sandown involving runway surface irregularities as a contributing factor.
Findings
- The aircraft became airborne at an insufficient airspeed due to hitting a bump on the grass runway.
- The heavy landing and subsequent loss of directional control resulted in damage to the propeller, cowling, fairings, and undercarriage.