What happened
On 28 February 2016, a Raj Hamsa X-Air Mk.2 Falcon, registration EI-DBI, was performing local circuit training at Lurgan More Airfield in County Galway. After completing a landing and performing standard takeoff checks, the pilot departed from Runway 22. Shortly after reaching an altitude of approximately 350 to 400 feet, the engine began to sputter before cutting out completely.
With the engine inoperative, the pilot performed a forced landing in a nearby grass field. The pilot had to navigate around electric fences present in the area, which limited the ability to flare the aircraft properly during the touchdown. The landing was heavy, resulting in minor damage to the aircraft, including a fractured left main gear stub axle and crush damage to the fuselage pod. There were no injuries to the pilot.
The investigation
The AAIU examined the engine, which was a Jabiru 2200 powered by a BING Type 94/40 carburettor. The investigation noted that the engine had been running on Unleaded 95 fuel. Following the incident, the pilot was able to restart the engine using the fuel remaining in the tanks, and no obvious mechanical damage was found during a manual rotation of the propeller.
Investigators also analyzed the meteorological conditions at the time of the event. The temperature was 6 °C with a dewpoint of 1.5 °C. The investigation compared these conditions against the EGAST risk charts for induction system icing.
Findings
- The engine failure occurred during the early stages of climb-out, leaving the pilot with limited altitude and airspeed to assess landing options.
- The presence of electric fences in the landing area constrained the pilot's approach, leading to a harder-than-normal landing.
- Carburettor icing was identified as a significant risk, as the ambient temperature and dewpoint indicated a serious risk of icing at any power setting.
- The use of Unleaded 95 fuel, which is more volatile and contains more water than Avgas, likely increased the susceptibility to such icing.