What happened
On 25 March 2017, a Denney Kitfox Mk 2, registration G-TWTW, departed from Redlands Airfield in Wiltshire for a private flight. During the initial climb, at an altitude of approximately 350 ft aglam, the aircraft's engine failed while the pilot was on a crosswind leg.
Faced with a sudden loss of power, the pilot elected to return to the departure runway. After turning downwind to establish sufficient landing distance, the pilot lowered the nose to maintain airspeed and initiated a steep turn toward the runway. However, the aircraft lacked the necessary altitude to complete the maneuver smoothly. Upon touching down on the runway, the aircraft skidded sideways, resulting in the collapse of both main landing gear legs. Despite the airframe distortion making the doors difficult to open, the pilot and one passenger were able to exit the aircraft without any injuries.
The investigation
Investigators examined the engine and found that a clip securing the oil filter supply pipe had failed. This failure allowed oil to escape, which subsequently caused a piston to seize.
The investigation also looked into the pilot's decision-making and airfield familiarity. The pilot noted that his lack of familiarity with the specific layout of Redlands Airfield contributed to the incident; specifically, he misidentified the location of a hedgerow, which led to a late turn and insufficient height for a stabilized approach. The pilot also acknowledged that while he remained calm, he had not sufficiently rehearsed emergency drills, leaving him with insufficient time to perform forced landing checks or issue a MAYDAY call.
Findings
- The engine failure was caused by oil loss resulting from a failed supply pipe clip, which led to a seized piston.
- The landing gear collapse was triggered by a sideways skid during touchdown caused by an uncompleted turn.
- The pilot's lack of familiarity with the airfield's hedgerow layout influenced the decision to turn late.