What happened
On 4 February 2017, a DH82A Tiger Moth, registration G-ANSM, was conducting a private flight departing from Runway 06 at Peterborough Sibson Airport. Shortly after the aircraft became airborne, a ground-based radio operator contacted the pilot to report that the aircraft's baggage locker appeared to be unlatched.
In response to this information, the pilot attempted to return to the airfield. During the execution of a left turn intended to facilitate the return, the pilot discovered that the rudder could no longer be moved to the right. The pilot noted that increasing engine power exacerbated the issue because of the impact of the propeller slipstream on the control surfaces. Consequently, the aircraft was forced into a descending, flat left turn, eventually resulting in a forced landing in a nearby field. The impact caused significant damage to the aircraft, though both crew members escaped the wreckage without injury.
The investigation
Following the incident, the aircraft was examined to determine the cause of the control malfunction. Subsequent testing of the rudder mechanism revealed that it was operating normally. Furthermore, an inspection of the baggage compartment confirmed that no items were missing and the locker was intact. The investigation was unable to identify a specific reason why the rudder had jammed during the initial phase of the flight.