What happened
On 9 May 2008, a student pilot was conducting a solo training flight in a Rotorsport UK MT-03, registration G-CEUI, at Kirkbride Airfield in Cumbria. The student had previously completed three successful training sessions with an instructor on the same day and had been cleared for this initial solo operation.
Following standard procedures, the student pre-rotated the rotors, retracted the control stick, released the brakes, and applied power for takeoff. Shortly after the takeoff roll commenced, the nose of the aircraft began to rise. The student attempted to counter this by pushing the control stick forward, but the nose continued to ascend. This pitch-up resulted in a significant loss of airspeed and lift, causing the aircraft to impact the ground from an altitude of approximately 10 feet. The pilot sustained no injuries, though the airframe, rotors, and tail sustained damage.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. Investigators examined the sequence of events during the takeoff roll and the pilot's control inputs. The student reported that despite his efforts to maintain control, the aircraft's nose rose uncontrollably, leading to the loss of airspeed and the subsequent impact.