What happened
On 1 June 2003, a Taylor JT1 Monoplane, registration G-AYUS, was preparing for a private local flight from Nayland Airfield in Suffolk. The weather was favorable, featuring excellent visibility and light winds. The airfield's runway 14 is a grass strip characterized by a significant downslope toward the north-west.
During the takeoff roll, the pilot applied power progressively. However, the engine experienced a brief period of instability, causing the aircraft to swing sharply to the left. While the pilot attempted to correct this with right rudder, a sudden surge in engine power caused the aircraft to swing violently to the right.
As the aircraft reached the steep downslope of the runway, the pilot realized that reducing power might result in an overrun, yet the aircraft was already deviating from the centerline. Fearing the aircraft might become airborne at a dangerous point on the slope, the pilot elected to continue the takeoff. The aircraft became airborne in a near-stall condition, oriented approximately 20° right of the runway centerline. The aircraft subsequently veered off the strip, striking rising ground to the right of the runway before coming to a halt in a nose-down position. There were no injuries to the pilot.
The investigation
The investigation examined the aircraft's performance, the engine's behavior during the takeoff roll, and the specific topography of Nayland Airfield. The AAIB established that the aircraft sustained a broken propeller, a bent main landing gear, and structural damage to the wing main spar. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's decision-making process regarding the decision to continue the takeoff despite the loss of directional control and the engine's intermittent power delivery.