What happened
On 21 August 2002, a Tri Kis (registration G-OKPW) was performing a private flight from Deanland, East Sussex, intended for Lydd Airport. The flight plan included a refueling stop at Lydd before continuing to France. At the time of the incident, weather conditions were favorable, with winds estimated at 340°/8 to 10 knots.
During the takeoff roll on the 500-metre dry grass runway 06, the pilot attempted to manage a left crosswind by applying into-wind aileron. As the aircraft progressed halfway down the runway, the pilot used right rudder to correct a slight leftward drift from the centerline. During this maneuver, the aircraft struck a bump on the surface, causing the left wing to lift abruptly. The aircraft subsequently veered approximately 45° off the runway heading toward the right.
The aircraft crossed an adjacent taxiway and entered an area of rough grass. The landing gear made contact with the ground, initially on the right main gear before bouncing onto the left main gear. This impact caused distortion to the nose gear, leading the propeller tips to strike the ground. The aircraft came to a stop just before encountering a hedge and trees. There were no injuries to the pilot.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. Investigators examined the sequence of events on the grass runway, the impact with the surface irregularity, and the subsequent structural damage to the airframe and propeller.