Incident
On 4 February 2017, a DH82A Tiger Moth, registration G-ANSM, departed from Runway 06 at Peterborough Sibson Airport for a private flight with two crew members and no passengers. Shortly after takeoff, the ground radio operator informed the pilot that the aircraft's baggage locker appeared to be unlatched. The pilot decided to return to land.
During the return, the pilot attempted to recover from a left turn but found that he could not move the rudder to the right. He reported that the best flight path he could achieve was a flat left turn, as adding power made the situation worse due to the effect of the propeller slipstream. He descended the aircraft in a left turn and executed a forced landing in a field.
Landing and Injuries
The aircraft sustained significant damage during the forced landing. However, neither occupant was injured, and both were able to vacate the aircraft without assistance.
Post-Incident Findings
After the incident, the rudder was tested and operated normally. The baggage locker was inspected, and nothing was found to be missing. Despite these checks, no reason for the rudder jam could be identified.