What happened
On 28 June 2003, a Vans RV-6, registration G-BZUY, was conducting a private local flight near Wells, Somerset. The weather conditions were reported as CAVOK with light and variable winds. The flight was intended to be a local excursion using the grass runway at Franklyn's Field.
During the takeoff roll on Runway 23, the aircraft encountered a series of bumps on the dry, uneven grass surface. As the aircraft gained speed, it became airborne at a low velocity and began drifting toward the left side of the runway. During this maneuver, the left wing tip made contact with a cereal crop, which was approximately 60 cm in height. This contact caused the aircraft to yaw sharply to the left, resulting in the aircraft coming to rest in an inverted position. Both the pilot and the passenger sustained minor injuries.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report form provided by the pilot. The examination focused on the runway conditions and the sequence of events during the takeoff phase. The investigation established that the runway surface was bumpy and that the edges of the 15-metre wide strip were lined with cereal crops. The pilot noted that the presence of the windscreen rollover bar was a significant factor in preventing more serious injuries during the inversion.