What happened
On 26 June 2011, a Sukhoi SU29, registration HA-YAO, departed from the grass runway 27 at Rougham Airfield during an airshow. The aircraft was operating with its smoke system active at the time of departure. Shortly after lifting off, the aircraft drifted north of the runway centerline, moving toward a line of aircraft parked parallel to the runway. During this maneuver, the aircraft's tail wheel made contact with two parked aircraft.
An aerodrome radio operator, positioned in a mobile control room, observed the aircraft veer north and subsequently lost sight of it as it crossed the line of parked planes. This prompted the sounding of the crash alarm. The pilot, having heard a thump from the tail, reported to the radio operator that a collision might have occurred. Following the incident, the pilot entered the circuit, where a visual inspection by another pilot revealed no obvious damage. The pilot then elected to land the aircraft back at the airfield.
The investigation
The investigation examined the circumstances of the drift and the pilot's observations during the takeoff roll. Witnesses at the airfield, including the radio operator and the Senior Airfield Fire Officer, provided accounts of the aircraft's flight path. The investigation also considered the pilot's use of visual references for directional control and the unintentional activation of the smoke system.
Findings
- The aircraft drifted to the right of the runway due to a combination of crosswind and a rightward swing caused by propwash.
- The pilot's reliance on a fence to the left of the runway for directional guidance proved problematic, as the aircraft's path moved away from this reference.
- The pilot's view over the nose of the aircraft is restricted during takeoff, necessitating the use of external features for alignment.
- The aircraft's smoke system was activated unintentionally during the flight.