What happened
On 3 January 2004, a Rans S6-ES, registration G-CCDC, was prepared for a flight from Inglenook Farm, Kent, to Stapleford, Essex. Following refueling and a routine daily inspection, the pilot opted to use Runway 09 for departure, as obstacles restricted the use of the opposite runway. The pilot noted a light tailwind of approximately 0-5 knots from 270°.
During the takeoff roll, the aircraft initially performed normally. However, at the point of rotation, the aircraft experienced a sudden yaw to the right. The pilot, believing the landing gear might have failed, attempted to continue the takeoff. Because the aircraft had not yet attained sufficient airspeed, the right wing tip made contact with the ground. This impact caused the aircraft to spin 180 degrees, resulting in damage to the propeller, the nose landing gear, and both wing tips. No injuries were sustained by the pilot or the passenger.
The investigation
Investigators examined the aircraft following the incident to determine the cause of the sudden yaw. The inspection of the aircraft revealed a significant split in the right main landing gear's tubeless tyre. The pilot suggested that the presence of flints on the Inglenook Farm airstrip may have caused the tyre to puncture or deflate during the takeoff run.