Incident Overview

Date: Saturday 13 April 2002
Aircraft Type: GAF Nomad N.24A
Owner/operator: Nomad Fleet Vamdrup
Registration Number: OY-JRW
Location: Weston-on-the-Green RAF Station – ÿ United Kingdom
Phase of Flight: Take off
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 15
Component Affected: Aircraft Control System (specifically control column and pilot input).Aircraft Control System (specifically control column and pilot input).
Category: Accident
A series of parachute flights were planned from Weston-on-the-Green. The first flight was uneventful. Thirteen parachutists boarded for the second flight, and the aircraft was cleared to take off from a dry surface of grass runway 01 (take off run available 3,194 feet). Approximately 80-83 kt (scheduled rotation speed 71 kt) the pilot pulled back on the control column, causing the aircraft to feel nose heavy and the nose did not rise. The pilot aborted the take-off, commenced braking, and set the condition levers to the full reverse position. As the aircraft decelerated, it turned to the right to avoid trees and bushes ahead, striking a small earth mound while traveling at approximately 15-20 kt. The accident resulted in the aircraft coming to a halt.A series of parachute flights were planned from Weston-on-the-Green. The first flight was uneventful. Thirteen parachutists boarded for the second flight, and the aircraft was cleared to take off from a dry surface of grass runway 01 (take off run available 3,194 feet). Approximately 80-83 kt (scheduled rotation speed 71 kt) the pilot pulled back on the control column, causing the aircraft to feel nose heavy and the nose did not rise. The pilot aborted the take-off, commenced braking, and set the condition levers to the full reverse position. As the aircraft decelerated, it turned to the right to avoid trees and bushes ahead, striking a small earth mound while traveling at approximately 15-20 kt. The accident resulted in the aircraft coming to a halt.

Description

A series of parachute flights had been planned from Weston-on-the-Green. The first flight was uneventful. Thirteen parachutists boarded for the second flight and the aircraft was cleared to take off from the dry surface of grass runway 01 (take off run available 3,194 feet). At approximately 80 to 83 kt (scheduled rotation speed 71 kt) the pilot pulled back on the control column. The aircraft felt nose heavy and the nose did not rise. He decided to abort the take off, commenced braking and set the condition levers to the full reverse position. As the aircraft decelerated he turned it to the right in order to avoid trees and bushes ahead. The aircraft struck a small earth mound, whilst still travelling at about 15-20 kt, and came to an abrupt halt. The AAIB did not conduct a full investigation into the accident. In their analysis of the accident it was considered “that for the second takeoff of the day the aircraft CG was significantly forward of the forward CG limit.”

Primary Cause

Pilot control input and aircraft stability loss during takeoff.Pilot control input and aircraft stability loss during takeoff.

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