What happened
On 30 December 2001, a Rans S6-ESA, registration G-RINS, was involved in an accident at a private airstrip in Soulby, Cumbria. Due to unsuitable weather conditions, the pilot had previously performed a precautionary landing on the 320-metre strip, which was covered in snow and featured a downslope toward the south.
Approximately thirty minutes later, the pilot attempted a takeoff heading south. During the initial roll, the pilot observed that acceleration was lower than expected and required significant right rudder input to maintain the centerline. As the aircraft reached the downhill section of the strip, it gained enough speed to lift off, but failed to clear a hedge at the end of the runway. Following the impact with the hedge, the aircraft spun to the left and came to a stop on a northerly heading. There were no injuries to the pilot or the passenger, and the cockpit safety cage remained intact throughout the impact.
The investigation
The investigation examined the aircraft's mechanical condition and the environmental factors present at the time of the accident. The pilot initially suspected that a binding brake on the left wheel had caused the lack of acceleration during the takeoff roll. However, a post-accident inspection by a repair agency found no evidence of any mechanical failure within the braking system.
Witness testimony from another pilot indicated that while conditions were generally calm, there was a brief period where a 5-knot wind appeared to be coming from the north during the takeoff roll. Additionally, it was noted that the left wheel appeared to be juddering and the aircraft's takeoff position was approximately 50 metres to the left of the ideal centerline.
Findings
- The aircraft struck a hedge because it did not achieve sufficient airspeed to clear the obstacle.
- The takeoff roll occurred on a surface of deep frozen, rough grass covered in snow.
- There was no mechanical fault found in the aircraft's braking system to account for the perceived lack of acceleration.
- Environmental factors, specifically the cold temperatures and snow-covered surface, may have contributed to the difficulty in accelerating the aircraft.