What happened
On 6 March 2005, a Socata TB9 Tampico, registration G-BMZE, was preparing for departure from Eddsfield Airfield, an unlicensed grass strip in Yorkshire. Prior to takeoff, the pilot performed necessary calculations and noted that weather conditions were conducive to carburetor ice formation. To mitigate this risk, the pilot conducted extended engine runs with the carburetor heat applied.
During the takeoff roll on Runway 27, the aircraft reached approximately 60 kt when the pilot noticed a rightward pull and a drop in indicated airspeed to 50 kt. Despite applying left rudder to maintain direction, the aircraft failed to accelerate past 55 kt. The pilot decided to abort the takeoff. Because the runway surface was wet, the pilot chose not to use the wheel brakes. In an effort to steer the aircraft away from a hedge and an adjacent road at the end of the runway, the pilot applied full left nose wheel steering. This maneuver caused the nose landing gear to collapse. The aircraft came to a stop with its right wing embedded in a hedge. There were no injuries to the two crew members on board.
The investigation
Investigators examined the aircraft and the airfield surface several days after the incident. The inspection of the Socata TB9 Tampico revealed that the nose wheel was unable to rotate because a significant amount of mud and grass had accumulated within the wheel spat. A smaller amount of debris was also found in the right wheel spat.
Analysis of the runway surface showed tracks indicating that both the nose and right main wheels had experienced intermittent skidding during the final third of the takeoff attempt. Recent rainfall had left the ground soft, which facilitated the accumulation of debris in the landing gear components.