What happened
On 9 February 2003, a Yak 52, registration G-CBRH, was involved in an incident during a private flight at Haverfordwest Aerodrome. The pilot intended to perform a practice short and soft-field takeoff from the unlicensed Runway 35, with winds recorded at 15 knots from 330°.
While taxiing downwind along Runway 17, the pilot adjusted the nose-down trim to assist with maintaining control against the wind conditions. After completing the necessary pre-takeoff checks and lining up on Runway 35, the pilot applied full power while holding the aircraft with the brakes. Upon releasing the brakes, the aircraft accelerated quickly, and the pilot rotated at an estimated speed of 100 kph (54 kt).
Immediately after liftoff, the pilot lowered the nose and began retracting the landing gear while slightly reducing power. During this retraction sequence, the aircraft descended toward the runway surface, causing the propeller blade tips to strike the ground. The pilot reported hearing an initial thump followed by three additional impacts as the gear cycle finished. Following the strike, the pilot performed a low-level circuit, noting moderate vibrations across all power settings, before returning for an uneventful landing.
The investigation
An inspection of the aircraft following the engine shutdown confirmed that both propeller blade tips had made contact with the runway surface. The investigation focused on the aircraft's attitude during the transition from liftoff to gear retraction. The pilot noted that the nose-down trim setting used during the downwind taxi had not been reset to the appropriate takeoff configuration.