Gulfstream AA-5A Cheetah, G-RATE, 13 May 2010

Gulfstream AA-5A Cheetah, G-RATE

Summary:

The accident flight was the pilot’s first flight in the aircraft as pilot in command with three passengers onboard. As part of the pre-takeoff checks, he set the pitch trim to a position he thought appropriate for the aircraft loading. However, during the subsequent takeoff the aircraft became airborne several knots less than the published rotate speed. Shortly afterwards the pilot felt the right wing drop. The pilot reduced the engine speed to idle and landed the aircraft back on the runway, during which both wing tips and the tail contacted the ground. He then applied the brakes, bringing the aircraft to a full stop in the grass field at the end of the paved runway. The pilot considered that he selected too much nose-up trim for takeoff and allowed the aircraft to get airborne prematurely. He believed that the aircraft then stalled and landed heavily back on the runway.

Download report:

Gulfstream AA-5A Cheetah, G-RATE 01-11.pdf (219.97 kb)

Published 10 December 2014