What happened
On 31 October 2015, a Dragon Chaser flex-wing microlight, registration G-CHNP, crashed near Pitsford Water in Northamptonshire. The aircraft had departed from Northampton/Sywell Aerodrome at 14:45 hrs under favorable weather conditions.
Witnesses observed the aircraft flying at a lower altitude than usual. During the flight, the aircraft was seen performing a sharp left turn and entering a steep descent. Some observers noted that the engine sound changed or ceased shortly before the impact. One witness described the engine appearing to lose power, as if the throttle had been closed, before the aircraft dropped and the nose wheel struck the ground. The impact caused the aircraft to somersault, resulting in one fatality.
The investigation
The AAIB examined the wreckage and the engine. The engine, a Polini 250 Thor, was found to be in working order with no evidence of mechanical failure or abnormal running. The propeller blades had broken, likely because the left wheel spat entered the propeller disc during the impact. The aircraft's electric trim was found in a high-speed position.
Investigators also reviewed meteorological data from Cranfield Aerodrome. The temperature and dewpoint at the time of the accident were such that the conditions sat on the boundary of where carburettor icing could occur. A post-mortem examination of the pilot found that the cause of death was chest injuries, with no evidence of medical incapacitation or toxicological issues.