What happened
On 7 September 2024, a Jodel D120, registration G-AYGG, departed from Damyns Hall Aerodrome in Essex for a private flight. Shortly after taking off from Runway 21, the pilot issued a MAYDAY call via Damyns Hall Radio, reporting an issue with the engine. Following the declaration of an emergency, the aircraft was observed turning back toward the airfield before losing controlled flight.
The aircraft subsequently struck the ground in a wooded area within Belhus Woods Country Park, approximately 1 km southeast of the aerodrome. The impact resulted in the destruction of the aircraft and caused one serious injury to the pilot. ADS-B flight data indicated that the aircraft reached a maximum altitude of approximately 900 ft amsl. The data showed the aircraft flying east before beginning a descent and a turn toward the north, eventually entering a tightening left turn that suggested a potential spin prior to impact.
The investigation
Investigators examined the Continental Motors Corp C90-14F engine and the propeller assembly. While the propeller blades showed fractures consistent with being stationary or rotating slowly at the time of impact, the examination of the engine failed to identify a specific defect that would explain the reported engine issue. There was a noticeable smell of fuel at the crash site, though it could not be confirmed if fuel was being actively supplied to the engine at the moment of failure.
Because the pilot could not recall the flight due to the nature of the injuries, and the aircraft was not equipped with any recording devices, the exact sequence of mechanical or operational events could not be definitively established.
Findings
- The engine had likely stopped at the time of the accident, though no mechanical cause for the failure was found.
- The aircraft's flight path, characterized by a tightening left turn during descent, suggests the pilot may have been attempting a turn-back to the airfield.
- The pilot was operating at a low altitude, which significantly limits the options available during an engine failure after takeoff (EFATO).
- The loss of control may have been a result of the aircraft entering a spin during the maneuvering process.