What happened
On October 16, 2008, a Cirrus SR22, registration OK-OKO, was performing a scheduled flight from Most Airport (LKMO) to Zurich (LSZH) carrying a pilot and two passengers. During the takeoff roll on runway 20R, the aircraft became airborne at approximately 70 KIAS.
At an altitude of roughly one meter, the right wing dipped, causing the aircraft to roll to the right. The pilot attempted to correct the bank using control inputs, but the aircraft did not respond as expected. The right wing tip subsequently made contact with the ground. This contact caused the aircraft to roll to the left, resulting in a heavy impact of the left wing tip with the runway surface. The pilot managed to stabilize the aircraft and brought it to a stop near the hangars.
The investigation
The ÚZPLN investigation focused on the sequence of events and the technical state of the aircraft. The investigation established that the aircraft's technical condition was not a factor in the accident. While the pilot initially reported an incorrect airspeed indication, inspections of the Pitot-static system and the drain hole revealed no malfunctions.
The investigation also examined the environmental conditions, noting a light wind from the right (20°-80°) and rain. The physical damage to the aircraft was significant, including a broken Pitot tube, cracked composite structures on the left wing trailing edge, damaged landing gear components, and propeller blade damage approximately 20 cm from the tips.
Findings
The investigation concluded that the probable cause of the accident was aircraft instability during takeoff, resulting from a combination of the following factors:
- The aircraft rotated at the minimum takeoff speed specified in the flight manual.
- A light wind was blowing from the right, opposing the direction of takeoff.
- Raindrops adhering to the wing surface negatively affected its aerodynamic properties.