What happened
On 4 July 1998, a QAC Quickie 1, registration G-BKFM, was participating in a light aircraft rally at Cranfield Airport, Bedfordshire. Following the conclusion of the event, the pilot entered the takeoff queue at approximately 1630 hrs. The runway in use was 22, with surface winds reported between 300° and 320° and notable gusts.
At 1700 hrs, after receiving takeoff clearance, the pilot began the takeoff roll. Upon becoming airborne, the aircraft experienced a left roll. Although the pilot was able to use corrective aileron, the aircraft's handling characteristics felt abnormal. The aircraft subsequently descended back to the runway and experienced a heavy bounce.
Suspecting that the aircraft had been damaged during the initial contact with the runway, the pilot attempted a second takeoff. During this second contact with the runway surface, the right canard snapped approximately halfway along its length, causing the aircraft to come to a halt on the runway. There were no injuries to the pilot.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. The inquiry examined the sequence of the takeoff attempts and the environmental conditions present at the time of the incident.
Findings
- The aircraft experienced an unstable departure characterized by an abnormal rolling motion.
- The pilot identified gusting tailwinds and a perceived pressure to depart the airfield quickly as contributing factors to the incident.